- Jean-Christophe Chopin
As one of the pioneers in the International Digital E-Commerce, Jean-Christophe Chopin, 43, created his first company at the age of 17. After several years spent in the US he returned to Europe at the age of 26 and began successfully distributing financial and insurance products, first through the Minitel and later internationally through the Internet.
In Sept 1996, Jean-Christophe completed a merger with E*Trade and expanded E*Trade into six European countries. In Nov 1999, he sold his 75% stake of this E*Trade venture to the E*Trade Group Inc.
In 2000, he acquiers OFUP [http://fr.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Office_universitaire_de_presse&oldid=34067128] , a French magazine subsciption company through his geneva holding company Firstream for 35 million euros. At the time, Firstream is an international group based in Geneva which wishes to use the sale network of OFUP to sell in faculties and the colleges bank, insurance and telephone products. Several million euros are invested to loanch these operations (with the help of the American billionaire Lou Gonda).
Jean-Christophe Chopin sells OFUP [http://fr.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Office_universitaire_de_presse&oldid=34067128] on the verge of bankruptcy to CARTAIX in 2008.
In 2002 Jean-Christophe co-founded Wifirst, building the second largest alternative Wifi operator in France.He is the founder, Chairman and CEO of Born and BornforSports and the visionary driving the BornforSports community marketplace, today present in 6 countries and 3 continents and aiming to become the number one sports style vertical marketplace (www.bornforsports.com).
Jean-Christophe is equally the Chairman of Digitalents Capital [http://www.digitalentscapital.com/eu/index.asp] , a private equity fund focused on late stage eCommerce businesses and online financial services (www.digitalentscapital.com).He is a co-founder and 50% owner of ‘La Compagnie’, the new leading luxury real-estate development company in Courchevel 1850.
Having been raised in the Alps, Jean-Christophe is particularly attached to the human qualities which this part of the world releases: humility, family and respect of the tradesman and the contractor. He has been active in Courchevel for the past 20 years and sponsored various institutions and individuals such as the Courchevel Ski School since 6 years, three time Freeride Champion Manu Gaidet and the 2003 expedition to climb the North Face of Mount Everest by a team of experienced mountain guides originating from Courchevel (film produced of the ascension).
He is president & co-founder of the Courchevel Yacht Club, dedicated to the long-term and frequent customers of Courchevel. The Courchevel Yacht Club provides special services to its members during their stay in the resort. Upon Jean-Christophe’s request, 25% of the Yacht Club’s treasury is granted to an association supporting children of the valley of Courchevel.Finally, he is the co-founder of Hautlence, an avant-garde luxury master watch brand created in September 2004 that has been recognized as one of the most innovative brands of the new generation creating and developing its own patented master timepieces (www.hautlence.com).
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