# Jean-Luc Robert

> Jean-Luc Robert is a French software entrepreneur and Kyriba founder who served as its chairman and CEO from 2003 to 2023. Before Kyriba, he founded European Engineering Software and Eurosept Associés, acquired by SunGard Data and EDS respectively. Based in San Diego, he led Kyriba’s international expansion and became a board member following the appointment of Melissa Di Donato in September 2023. That month, Sidetrade also announced his appointment as a non-executive director.

- **Role:** Board Member at Kyriba
- **Organizations:** Kyriba, Sidetrade, European Engineering Software, Eurosept Associés
- **Nationality:** French
- **Education:** MS (as listed in ESCP Founder Report 2025), École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP), LLM, Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas
- **Known for:** Led Kyriba as chairman and CEO for 20 years, from 2003 to 2023., Founded two earlier businesses acquired by SunGard Data and EDS., Kyriba surpassed $110 million in 2018 revenue and added 229 clients that year.

## Career timeline

- **Before 2003** — Founded and led Eurosept Associés, subsequently acquired by EDS.
- **Before 2003** — Founded and led European Engineering Software, subsequently acquired by SunGard Data.
- **2003** — Began tenure as Kyriba chairman and CEO.
- **2017** — Kyriba announced a $45 million investment with Sumeru Equity Partners and existing investors.
- **2019** — Kyriba announced its FiREapps acquisition and a $160 million Bridgepoint-led investment round at a $1.2 billion company valuation.
- **2020** — Recognized by Goldman Sachs at its Builders + Innovators Summit and received EY Entrepreneur Of The Year recognition in San Diego.
- **2023-07** — Participated in an Aix-en-Provence panel on new technologies and industrialisation.
- **2023-09** — Stepped down as Kyriba CEO; Melissa Di Donato became chair and CEO, with Robert joining the board.
- **2023-09** — Sidetrade announced his appointment as a non-executive director.
- **2025-01** — Appeared with IRIS managing partner Curt Gunsenheimer at a Paris lunch discussing Kyriba’s growth.

## Achievements

- Led Kyriba as chairman and CEO for 20 years, from 2003 to 2023.
- Founded two earlier businesses acquired by SunGard Data and EDS.
- Kyriba surpassed $110 million in 2018 revenue and added 229 clients that year.
- Led Kyriba during the 2019 Bridgepoint-led $160 million investment round.
- Named among Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs of 2020.
- Received EY Entrepreneur Of The Year recognition in San Diego in 2020.

## Latest updates

- **2025-01** — IRIS shared a Paris lunch discussion with Robert and managing partner Curt Gunsenheimer about Kyriba and their long partnership.
- **2024-10** — Bridgepoint announced a reinvestment in Kyriba alongside General Atlantic at a company valuation above $3 billion; the announcement explicitly credited its earlier partnership with founder Jean-Luc Robert.
- **2023-09** — Kyriba announced Robert’s transition from CEO to board member; Sidetrade separately announced his non-executive board appointment.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanlucrobert

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/jean-luc-robert
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-22