Bic’s CEO explains why he’s stepping down at 46, and what’s next

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Do you know how many pens are in the average American household? The answer is 114—and Gonzalve Bich, CEO of Bic, the French manufacturing giant for pens, lighters, shaving razors, and more, is likely one of the few people in the world to know that.

That’s because it’s his job. As the 46-year-old chief executive of the company that was originally founded by his grandfather in 1945, Bich also likely has intimate knowledge of how many disposable razors the typical American uses every year, and how many lighters we burn through as well. But he’s also ready to hang it all up at a relatively young age. In December, Bich announced that he would step down by September, and make way for a new CEO to assume the company’s reins.

And while many business or political leaders are seemingly unwilling to retire, even at much more advanced ages—President Trump is 78, President Biden was 82 when he left the White House, and Warren Buffett is 94, to name a few—Bich, a relative spring chicken, is ready to focus his energy in other areas.

From “sell more pens” to “a human expression company”

Bich tells Fast Company that he feels that age 46 “sounded better to try something else and reinvent myself,” adding, “I did a lot, and I think that there are other opportunities I’m equally excited about. 

“I joined this business over 20 years ago as a family member and held a lot of different positions,” he says. “When I became CEO, I wanted to transform the business and needed to.” Bich notes that when he assumed control of the company, nearly everything was trending in the wrong direction, and that interestingly enough, Bic never really had an overarching business strategy—so, he set about implementing one, allowing that to be his legacy at the company.

“We never had a strategy. Every year, it was just ‘grow,’ but there was no concerted plan to take the organization forward in terms of growth,” Bich says. And that in terms of overall goals, he says Bic was merely looking to “sell more pens, or open another factory.” So, he decided to “reimagine” the company’s verticals; and over the past several years, he was able to turn Bic from “being a pen company to being a human expression company.”

That included strategic acquisitions in some surprising areas, such as the acquisition of Tangle Teezer, a hairbrush company, and Tattly, a temporary tattoo brand. Tattoos are an area that Bich is passionate about, and as Bic digs into the temporary tattoo space, it will offer an expanding range of offerings, including temporary tattoos that can last from a few hours to several weeks. 

It’s that type of diversification that’s helped put Bic in a better financial position and helped Bich become more comfortable with the idea of allowing the company to find a successor. “Today, if I hit ‘pause’ on the movie, Bic is a dynamic organization with people who are highly capable and a brand that is closer to consumers than ever,” he says.

What’s next

Looking ahead, Bich says that he has his eye on a number of potential projects, but his immediate attention will turn closer to home. 

Specifically, Bich is gearing up for the launch of a foundation that’s close to his heart; one that will support projects in and around local communities to help families with autistic children—with a focus not only on helping parents but siblings of those children too. Bich, a father of four, has an autistic child, and knows firsthand how difficult it can be for the entire family. 

“I want to help families in our communities go through this differently, with support and structure,” he says. But that’s not all. “I intend to also have professional activities beyond that,” he says, though he remains mum on what, exactly, those could be for now.

Looking back, though, Bich is bowing out at a time when his company is profitable, diverse, and growing. “I’m proud of our financial results; we get our investors and stakeholders a very healthy return,” he says. The numbers speak for themselves: Bic’s latest earnings report, released February 19, showed sales and profitability increasing company-wide.

As for what’s next for the company, Bich says he plans to work with his successor for a smooth handoff, which should be completed in the fall. “Succession is absolutely a part of business and a part of leadership,” he says.

As such, Bich says, he will “pass the pen.”

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