Remembering Radiall's Co-Founder Yvon Gattaz

Born on June 17, 1925, in Jallieu, Isère, France, Gattaz was raised alongside his brother Lucien. With a schoolteacher for a father, Gattaz developed an early passion for mathematics, which eventually led him to attend École Centrale Paris, where he trained as an engineer. Gattaz began his professional career as an engineer at Aciéries du Nord (later Usinor-Denain), working there from 1948 to 1950. He subsequently joined Citroën, where he worked from 1950 to 1954.

In 1952, Gattaz and his brother Lucien founded Radiall with the slogan “Speed & Quality.” At the time, France aimed to become a global leader in television technology by adopting higher frequencies through its SECAM standards. In response, the brothers developed a specialized interconnect solution tailored to these requirements. By 1954, Radiall was manufacturing 100,000 connectors per month.

Gattaz’s pioneering spirit earned him widespread respect and recognition. On May 29, 1989, he was inducted into the Academy of Moral and Political Sciences, where he later served as president in 1999. He was also a member of the board of trustees for the Fourmentin-Guilbert Foundation. In addition to his leadership roles, Gattaz authored numerous books on free enterprise.

In the 1990s, Pierre Gattaz, Yvon’s son, assumed the role of CEO at Radiall, continuing the innovative legacy his father had established.

Over the years, Radiall has pursued diversification, leading to several strategic acquisitions across various industries. Thanks to the combined efforts of Yvon, Lucien, and Pierre, the company has become globally recognized for its technical innovations in fields such as aerospace, military defense, telecom, and more.

With a rich history, Radiall has built a strong reputation as a trusted global leader in interconnect solutions. Guided by purposeful leadership, Radiall continues to push boundaries and embrace bold ideas.