Dassault Appoints Gian Paolo Bassi as SOLIDWORKS CEO

VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France, Jan 24, 2015 - Dassault Systems (Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY.PA), the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, world leader in 3D design software, 3D Digital Mock Up and Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions, announced that Gian Paolo Bassi has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of its 3D design software brand SOLIDWORKS.

Gian Paolo Bassi will spearhead the development of SOLIDWORKS’ future product and technology strategies designed for the desktop and the cloud and the continued collaboration with the brand’s user community. Gian Paolo Bassi replaces Bertrand Sicot, who is promoted Vice President Sales of Dassault Systems’ Value Solutions sales channel.

“Behind every great brand is great talent, and Gian Paolo and Bertrand have been architects of change for SOLIDWORKS,” said Bernard Charlès, President and CEO of Dassault Systems. “SOLIDWORKS has developed into a comprehensive portfolio for intuitive, integrated 3D design, simulation, electrical design, product data management and technical communication and continues to thrive thanks to engineering ingenuity and user collaboration. We look forward to continued success for SOLIDWORKS under Gian Paolo’s leadership and to strong Value Solutions channel sales growth from Bertrand’s extensive sales experience.”

Gian Paolo Bassi has been instrumental in the growth of SOLIDWORKS since joining Dassault Systems in 2011 as SOLIDWORKS Vice President Research and Development. With a hands-on technical approach and working in close collaboration with SOLIDWORKS’ tight-knit user community of more than two million engineers and designers, Gian Paolo Bassi led the development of the brand’s cloud applications, SOLIDWORKS Mechanical Conceptual and SOLIDWORKS Industrial Conceptual, to provide users with an instinctive powerful 3D modeling environment with online data storage and social collaboration on Dassault Systems’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Gian Paolo Bassi, 55 years old, has more than 25 years of experience in 3D, CAD, and PLM application development. Prior to joining Dassault Systems’ SOLIDWORKS brand, he was founder and CTO of RIWEBB where he oversaw the development of new technologies for the mechanical and architectural design automation industry. He was also previously vice president and CTO of ImpactXoft, where he co-invented three of his five patents in functional modeling.

Bertrand Sicot, former CEO of SOLIDWORKS, is now Dassault Systems’ Vice President Sales of its Value Solutions sales channel, its indirect sales network of over 500 partners in 36 countries. With more than 20 years of sales operations leadership in both domestic and international engineering businesses, Bertrand Sicot joined SOLIDWORKS in 1997 as Regional Sales Manager for Western Europe and Scandinavia and held a number of subsequent high-level sales positions for SOLIDWORKS, including Executive Vice President of Sales.

About Dassault Systems

Dassault Systems, the 3DEXPERIENCE Company, provides business and people with virtual universes to imagine sustainable innovations. Its world-leading solutions transform the way products are designed, produced, and supported. Dassault Systems’ collaborative solutions foster social innovation, expanding possibilities for the virtual world to improve the real world. The group brings value to over 190,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, in more than 140 countries. For more information, visit www.3ds.com.