Why is Dassault Systèmes’ Bernard Charlès Stepping Down?

Dassault Systèmes, the global leader in 3D design and product lifecycle management has announced a restructuring of its top-tier leadership positions. 

Bernard Charlès, a widely regarded tech visionary who has spent over four decades steering the company’s rise from startup to industry leader, has stepped down as Executive Chairman and member of the Board for personal reasons, effective immediately. 

Current CEO Pascal Daloz will step into the role, becoming Chairman and CEO as of 21 February 2026. 

He will continue to shape and drive the company’s ambition to lead the global transformation of industries powered by industrial AI through its 3D UNIV+RSES initiative. 

Bernard will remain with the company in a strategic advisory role. He says: “I love and am deeply proud of Dassault Systèmes – its people, its teams, its customers, its purpose and values and what we build together. I am, at heart, a product and technology leader; this is my passion. 

“I will remain fully available to the company to accelerate the adoption of 3D UNIV+RSES. Over the past 40 years, I have driven six generations of industry transformations, leading cutting-edge product innovation. “Gen7” is now well defined and architected.”

Bernard Charlès: a legacy of innovation

Bernard is widely considered as one of the architects of the modern digital industry. Joining Dassault Systèmes in 1983 and serving as CEO for nearly three decades, he took a small French software firm and turned it into a global leader operating in 12 key industries across 150+ countries.

His reputation is built on three major ‘firsts’ that changed how products are made. 

In the 1990s, he proved that complex machines could be designed entirely on a computer, leading the partnership with Boeing to create the 777, the first aircraft built without a single physical prototype, saving years of development time.

Bernard moved the industry beyond just "drawing" on a screen, however. 

He pioneered Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), a system that tracks a product from its initial sketch through to its manufacturing and eventual recycling, while his most recent legacy – the virtual twin – is moving Dassault Systèmes into new industries, including healthcare. 

Visionary leadership

In a LinkedIn post discussing his legacy, Dassault Systèmes says: “For more than 45 years, we have been guided by the visionary leadership of Bernard Charlès. 

“Together, we pushed the boundaries of science and imagination to transform the lives of consumers, patients and citizens, bringing “Virtual Worlds to Real Life”. From 3D design to 3D UNIV+RSES, we have built a unique legacy of industry knowledge, driven by his passion for innovation and his bold, game-changing vision.”

The company says: “Today, as Bernard CHARLES announces stepping down from his Executive Chairman and Member of the Board positions, we thank him for transforming our company from a startup into a world leader, trusted by nearly 400,000 companies worldwide.”

Pascal Daloz: advancing company heritage

According to the company, the transition “reflects the strength and continuity of our governance and vision”. 

It writes: “Together with Pascal, we are ready to shape the next chapter of our legacy — positioning Dassault Systèmes as the leader in Industrial AI.”

Pascal joined Dassault Systèmes in 2001, spending two years rising through roles including VP of R&D, CFO, COO and, most recently, CEO.

His defining achievement is leading the company’s pivot into Life Sciences, including the pivotal acquisition of Medidata, which proved that the "virtual twin" technology used for jets could also simulate the human body. 

He says: “I am honored to succeed Bernard Charlès as Chairman of Dassault Systèmes, in addition to my mission as CEO. I would like to thank Bernard for his trust, his unwavering support and his inspiration. 

“We share the same vision: pushing the boundaries of science and imagination to change the lives of consumers, patients and citizens – bringing "virtual worlds to real life."

He adds: “Our ambition is clear: to lead the transformation powered by Industrial AI through 3D UNIV+RSES. This is a long-term commitment to further redefine how industries innovate, operate and compete in the Generative Economy. 

“I am committed to ensuring that Dassault Systèmes retains the freedom needed to remain a game-changer and to accelerating growth.”