French family involved with the acquisition, management and long-term investment in the industrial, energy, real estate, biotechnology, advertising and media sectors through their holding company, Wendel SA. Headquartered in Paris, the family’s business was founded in 1704 by Jean-Martin de Wendel.
Originally ranked as one of Europe’s leading steel producers in the 19th century, the family diversified into technology and investment services after France nationalised steel production in the 1970s. Since 1977, Wendel SA has invested in notable companies, such as Bureau Veritas, Saint-Gobain, Capgemini, CarnaudMetalbox and Reynolds. Today, 1,169 Wendel family shareholders own a 37.7 per cent stake in Wendel SA, as well as 51.1 per cent of the voting rights in the business, which reports annual sales of $9.9 billion. Six Wendel family members sit on the Supervisory Board, including François de Wendel and Humbert de Wendel, who also serves as Director of the family’s ownership participation company, Wendel-Participations SE.
