Sonepar recently announced the passing of its founder and Honorary Chairman Henri Coisne. Coisne, 99, passed on the night of Dec. 15, 2022, surrounded by his family and loved ones.
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Very early on, Coisne realized the potential of the electrical distribution industry. He founded Sonepar in 1969, which has since become a global electrical distributor with over 45,000 associates across 40 countries.
“Our father was a pioneer who was an inspiration to all of us. He was always ambitious and driven by an entrepreneurial spirit which will continue to guide the Group in the future,” said Marie-Christine Coisne-Roquette, Sonepar Chairman.
“He was a fair and good man. As a family business, he was obsessed with the long term and even if he no longer held an operational role, he always remained fully up to date with all the developments in the Group. As he would often say, what counts is what lasts. Over 50 years later, Sonepar’s independence remains a key strength to support the Group’s strategy of sustainable, long-term growth, powered by the commitments of its family shareholders.”
