Michel Gougnard holds a Master’s degree in public law and is a graduate of the Institut de Contrôle de Gestion (ICG). He joined MAAF Assurances in 1976 and held a variety of executive positions within the Covéa Group, responsible in particular for the rollout of a number of innovative projects in the area of claims management and establishing a common employee status for all Group employees.

He has served as chairman of Covéa Group insurance companies (Fidélia Assistance, DAS – Défense Automobile Sportive - MMA, APJ – Assurance Protection Juridique – GMF and FructiMAAF), as well as insurance industry bodies such as the GEMA Technical Committee, DARVA and the Mandatory Insurance Guarantee Fund (FGAO).

He was appointed General Manager of Covéa’s Compensation Assistance Service Department in 2006 on behalf of MAAF, MMA and GMF, and then from 2015 to 2018, Chief Human Resources and Internal Communications Officer, General Manager, at Covéa.

In June 2018, he became President of non-profit organisation Valeurs Mutualistes MAAF. He is also a director of the Group’s main companies.

In January 2021, Michel Gougnard was appointed Chairman of Covéa’s Audit Committee. He was made Chairman of the Group’s Board of Directors in July 2022 and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Covéa Coopérations in November 2022.