Gilles Mougenot is one of the founders and, after having spent 35 years as CEO at Argos, now focuses on bringing his experience to the support and development of the group’s portfolio companies.

Close to the management teams, Gilles has accompanied numerous entrepreneurs on complex transformation and growth operations. He participated in the deployment of Argos in the six countries where the group now invests.

Gilles began his career as a legal adviser. He has been a recognised player in the French private equity market since 1984, when he created the transmissions department of the ANCE, a State-owned agency for the development of entrepreneurship.

In 1985, he joined Initiative et Finance, one of France’s LBO pioneers, at its inception and participated in more than 30 transactions. In 1990, Gilles was one of the founders of Argos Soditic, now Argos.

In particular, he led the buyouts of Eau Ecarlate (by Spotless), Du Pareil au Même, Saime, Roc-Eclerc, Alkan and Revima in France, Lineas and Gantrex in Belgium, Future Groep (now Cohedron) and from August 2021 Schenk in the Netherlands. In 2003, he was appointed President of France Invest for the year 2003/04.

Gilles graduated from the Institute of Comparative Law and holds a DESS degree in Business Law. He is a member of the Investment Committee of the Capmezzanine fund in Morocco and TELOs impact, and he wrote a book called “Tout Savoir sur le Capital-Investissement” or “Everything You Need to Know about Private Equity” (7th edition).