Pierre Dreyfus

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Pierre Dreyfus (November 18, 1907 - 25 December 1994) was a high flying French civil servant who in 1955 became a top businessman. Between 1947 and 1955 he occupied senior administrative positions in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, becoming in 1951 'directeur de cabinet' at the ministry. He combined his civil service duties with the vice-presidency of the newly nationalised Renault auto business between 1948 and 1955, and was appointed Renault CEO, following the death on February 11, 1955, in a road accident of Pierre Lefaucheux, the previous incumbent: he retained the position till his own retirement from the company in 1975. During his twenty years in charge, Renault consolidated its position as France's top selling car maker, gaining particular kudos for popularizing front wheel drive hatchback sedans across Europe, most notably with the 4, 5 and 16 models.

During the early years of the Mitterand presidency, Dreyfus became active on the political scene, serving briefly as Industry Minister between June 1981 and June 1982 under prime minister Pierre Mauroy.

Pierre Dreyfus was not related either to Alfred Dreyfus, famous because of the 'Dreyfus Affair' effectively publicised by Emile Zola, nor to the Louis-Dreyfus family.