A story of people
Cornilleau’s success rests on its products, but first and foremost on the women and men who challenge convention and turn ideas into reality. Since the company was founded in 1946, three leaders have each brought their own vision and energy to shape Cornilleau into the brand it is today.
Émile Cornilleau
President from 1946 to 1979
Working with materials and the craft of joinery
After leaving Paris for the Oise region on his in-laws’ advice, Émile put his joinery skills to work and opened a workshop to help with post-war reconstruction. This was the beginning of Cornilleau. Under his leadership, the company prospered in construction and employed around twenty people by the end of the 1960s.
Pierre Cornilleau
President from 1979 to 2003
Innovation and the industrial production of table tennis tables
Pierre joined his father in 1961, straight after completing his studies. His technical background, instinct and industrial vision drove a complete transformation: in 1969 Cornilleau left construction behind for table tennis. From design, ergonomics and safety to performance and durability, he kept innovating until Cornilleau became a leader in its field. His success was inseparable from Colette, his wife and equal partner in the company. In the early 1980s, she approached champion Jacques Secrétin and created a partnership that greatly increased awareness of the Cornilleau brand.
Michel Zany
President since 2003
International growth and diversification
Michel joined Cornilleau as Sales and Marketing Director in 1992. Over eleven years alongside Pierre, he absorbed the company’s values and DNA. His entrepreneurial vision took Cornilleau’s French expertise around the world. When Pierre retired in 2003, Michel became President and continued to enrich the spirit of his predecessors through innovation and expansion into new markets. He opened the way for a broader product range: a complete line of table tennis bats and accessories in the 2000s, outdoor billiards in 2019, soon followed by trampolines and table football.
“Constantly reinventing ourselves is the only way to deliver a truly high-quality playing experience through our products.”
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