Early Life
Danielle Bellon is the widow of Pierre Bellon, who founded Sodexo in 1966. Pierre Bellon passed away in January 2022.
Rise to Success
Pierre Bellon began to expand Sodexo internationally in 1971; as of 2021 its 420,000 employees served 100 million people in 64 countries daily. After 50 years, Bellon retired as chairman of Sodexo in January 2016 and became chairman emeritus. The family's net worth is estimated at $3.16 billion as of December 2025. Sodexo has catered for a wide range of customers, feeding people at locations from mining sites in Africa to six Olympic games since 1988.
Key Business Strategies
The family has strategically positioned the next generation to lead. Their daughter, Sophie Bellon, serves as the CEO of the Paris-listed Sodexo, steering the company through a period of transformation. Their son, François-Xavier Bellon, chairs the family holding company, Bellon S.A., overseeing the family's diverse investments. Another daughter, Nathalie Bellon-Szabo, heads Sodexo Live!, the company's events hospitality arm. In March 2024, the family took a significant step in succession planning by appointing their 31-year-old grandson, Laszlo Szabo, to the board of spinoff company Pluxee NV.
Philanthropy
Beyond business, the Bellon family is committed to philanthropy and community engagement. They have supported various charitable initiatives, focusing on education, health, and social welfare.