Jean-Louis Gassée

Jean-Louis Gassée

Jean-Louis Gassée joined Allegis Capital as a partner in April 2003, bringing more than 30 years of high-technology experience to the firm. Prior to this, he headed up Be, Inc., which developed the Be operating system (Be OS) to provide multimedia software for appliances to deliver information, entertainment and interactivity over the Web.

Gassée spent nine years at Apple Computer. In 1981, he started Apple’s French subsidiary and, in 1982, was also named president of the Apple Education Foundation. Apple France became Apple’s largest business unit outside of the United States. In 1985, Jean-Louis was transferred to Apple headquarters to lead Apple’s product development and served as president of the Apple Products Division.

Before joining Apple, Jean-Louis was president and general manager of the French subsidiary of Exxon Office Systems. He also held several general management positions with Data General – including general manager for France, area manager for Latin and Middle-East countries, and marketing director for Europe. Gassée also worked six years at Hewlett-Packard where he was responsible for overseeing the launching of the company’s first desktop scientific computer and the development of its sales organization in France, before his promotion to sales manager of Europe.

He graduated with bachelor’s degree from Orsay University in France.