Which school did Bernard Charlès go to from 1977 to 1980?
Bernard Charlès Bernard Charlès ( born 1957 ) is a French business executive . He is the chief executive officer and the vice-chairman of the board of directors of Dassault Systèmes , the 3DEXPERIENCE Company , world leader in 3D design software , 3D digital mock-up and Product Lifecycle Management ( PLM ) solutions . Charlès is the 13th best-performing CEO in the world according to the Harvard Business Review 2017 ranking . In 2018 Dassault Systèmes was named the most sustainable corporation in the world in the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World index by Corporate Knights . In 2018 , he was named one of the Best CEOs In The World by the CEOWORLD magazine . Early life and education . Bernard Charlès was born and grew up in Brittany , France . He is a graduate from the Ecole Normale Supérieure engineering school in Cachan ( ENS Cachan ) and has a PhD in mechanical engineering majoring in automation engineering and information science . He also holds an agrégation — the most senior teaching qualification achievable in France ( specializing in mechanical engineering ) . Professional career . Bernard Charlès joined Dassault Systèmes in 1983 to develop new design technology – less than two years after the company was created . In 1986 he founded a New Technologies , Research and Strategy department . In 1988 he was named to the position of President of Strategy , Research & Development . In 1989 , he initiated the creation of the digital mock-up ( DMU ) , complete virtual 3D model of a product that replaced physical prototypes . Charlès was appointed president and chief executive officer of Dassault Systèmes in September 1995 . In 1996 , he became a member of the board of directors . The same year he organized the flotation of Dassault Systèmes on the stock market . In 2000 , with the idea of Product Lifecycle Management ( PLM ) , he extended the concept of the digital mock-up to the entire lifecycle of a product . In parallel he made a series of acquisitions and brand creation : ENOVIA in 1998 , DELMIA in 2000 and SIMULIA in 2005 . To reinforce the companys business scope and sales capabilities , he decided to acquire SolidWorks in 1997 , and to gain control of Dassault Systèmes’ entire distribution network , previously managed by IBM . In 2012 , with 3DEXPERIENCE , Charlès announced a new vision for the company based on the idea that 3D should also include the simulation of the consumer experience . He set a specific purpose to “The 3DEXPERIENCE Company” : “Dassault Systèmes provides business and people with 3DEXPERIENCE universes to imagine sustainable innovations capable of harmonizing product , nature and life.” To support this ambition , he carried on an acquisition ( Gemcom in 2012 , Apriso in 2013 , RTT , Quintiq and Accelrys in 2014 ) and diversification strategy with 3DSWYM for social innovation , EXALEAD and NETVIBES for data intelligence , GEOVIA in the Natural Resources sector , 3DVIA for a B2C approach , BIOVIA for virtual biosphere and materials , and 3DEXCITE for real-time , high-end visualizations . In May 2016 , he was named vice-president of the board of directors of Dassault Systèmes , of which he had become member in 1993 . Since May 2015 , Bernard Charlès has been co-leading the French government project “Industry of the Future” . This alliance is a group of technology companies , professional associations and academic partners whose mission is to promote the French governments program to digitally transform industry in France . He is the Honorary Chairman of La Fondation Dassault Systèmes that helps research and academic institutions leverage the power of 3D virtual worlds to stretch the limits of knowledge . Charlès was elected a member of the National Academy of Engineering in 2017 for leadership in providing major software tools for simulation-based engineering . Honors . Bernard Charlès holds the rank of Officer in the French Legion of Honour and is a member of the National Academy of Technologies of France . He is a foreign member of the US National Academy of Engineering . External links . - Biography - Dassault’s modest proposal : Change the way we make everything , January 25 , 2016 - Rethink Innovation ! We are in the Experience Economy , Keynote lecture at CeBIT Global Conferences , March 16 , 2015 - The Experience Economy is Changing Everything about the Way We Do Business , Executive Insight , Prime Magazine , Autumn 2014 - Inside a Beating Silicon Heart , Forbes , January 20 , 2014 - Dassault Systèmes : a Story of Excellence , Interview with TV5Monde channel for the reception of the French Excellence prize , Subtitled in English , 2012 - View from the Top : Bernard Charles , president and CEO of Dassault Systèmes , Financial Times , May 8 , 2009 - Spotlight : A Frenchman with virtual passion , The New York Times , January 6 , 2006