Mystery of Michelin tycoon killed at sea
Charles Bremner
Times Online
__________
Investigators sent a robot probe into the waters of the Atlantic yesterday to hunt for clues into the sudden death of Edouard Michelin, 42, the billionaire boss of the world’s biggest tyre company.
His death while fishing in the treacherous waters off Cape Finisterre was a blow to the French institution that was founded by his great-grandfather 140 years ago, and triggered speculation as to who would lead the company.
M Michelin’s body was found floating among lobster pots last Friday. Yesterday a Navy mine-hunter found his 24ft (7m) fishing boat on the seafloor, 150ft down.
A Navy robot camera scouring the site near the island of Sein could find no sign of the body of Guillaume Normant, a friend and experienced fisherman who had taken the tycoon out in search of sea bass.
Police do not suspect foul play but a mystery remained over the sudden death of one of France’s richest men. M Normant was a local professional with long experience in the Atlantic. Maritime officials said that conditions were acceptable when the fishing boat disappeared on Friday, although fog had cut visibility to 200 yards (180m).
But Robert Bougueon, the head of a local fisherman’s association, quoted M Normant’s wife as saying that M Michelin had persuaded her husband to take the boat out against his better judgment. “He didn’t know how to say no,” M Bougueon said.
Jean-Marie Figue, a spokesman for the maritime authorities, said: “It is a dangerous area where only professionals can fish. There are rocks, currents — it’s a real whirlpool.
The company reassured its 130,000 workers that its future was secure under Michel Rollier, 61, who was co-chairman. But doubts continued about the succession because M Rollier is only a distant descendant of the founder of the company, also called Edouard Michelin.
The company has always been run by his direct male descendants, and no Michelin appeared qualified to take over. M Michelin’s six sons and daughters are too young, and only one of his brothers works for the company, in a middle-level job.
May 29, 2006
Charles Bremner
Times Online
__________
Investigators sent a robot probe into the waters of the Atlantic yesterday to hunt for clues into the sudden death of Edouard Michelin, 42, the billionaire boss of the world’s biggest tyre company.
His death while fishing in the treacherous waters off Cape Finisterre was a blow to the French institution that was founded by his great-grandfather 140 years ago, and triggered speculation as to who would lead the company.
M Michelin’s body was found floating among lobster pots last Friday. Yesterday a Navy mine-hunter found his 24ft (7m) fishing boat on the seafloor, 150ft down.
A Navy robot camera scouring the site near the island of Sein could find no sign of the body of Guillaume Normant, a friend and experienced fisherman who had taken the tycoon out in search of sea bass.
Police do not suspect foul play but a mystery remained over the sudden death of one of France’s richest men. M Normant was a local professional with long experience in the Atlantic. Maritime officials said that conditions were acceptable when the fishing boat disappeared on Friday, although fog had cut visibility to 200 yards (180m).
But Robert Bougueon, the head of a local fisherman’s association, quoted M Normant’s wife as saying that M Michelin had persuaded her husband to take the boat out against his better judgment. “He didn’t know how to say no,” M Bougueon said.
Jean-Marie Figue, a spokesman for the maritime authorities, said: “It is a dangerous area where only professionals can fish. There are rocks, currents — it’s a real whirlpool.
The company reassured its 130,000 workers that its future was secure under Michel Rollier, 61, who was co-chairman. But doubts continued about the succession because M Rollier is only a distant descendant of the founder of the company, also called Edouard Michelin.
The company has always been run by his direct male descendants, and no Michelin appeared qualified to take over. M Michelin’s six sons and daughters are too young, and only one of his brothers works for the company, in a middle-level job.
May 29, 2006
