# Pierre Marion

_French intelligence chief (1921–2010)_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/pierre-marion
Last updated: 2026-10-31

> Pierre Marion (24 January 1921 – 17 May 2010) was a French senior official, who was the first director of the Directorate-General for External Security (DGSE – Direction Générale de la Sécurité Extérieure) from 1981 to 1982, and its predecessor, the Service de Documentation Extérieure et de Contre-Espionnage (SDECE).

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 24 January 1921 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2093677#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Marseille ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2093677#P19))
- **Died:** 17 May 2010 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2093677#P570))
- **Place of death:** Louviers ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2093677#P20))
- **Citizenship:** France ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2093677#P27))
- **Occupation:** official; civil servant ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2093677#P106))
- **Education:** École polytechnique ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2093677#P69))
- **Positions held:** president (1982–1986); Director of DGSE (2 April 1982 – 10 November 1982); director (17 June 1981 – 2 April 1982) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2093677#P39))

## About

Marion was born in Marseille, and entered the École Polytechnique at just 18 years of age. Following his education, he joined Air France where he held various management positions from 1956 to 1972. He then became managing director of aerospace manufacturer Aerospatiale's North American operations for ten years.

In 1981, Marion was asked by his friend, Charles Hernu (who had been made Minister of Defence in François Mitterrand's government), if he would become director of the SDECE, the French external intelligence agency. He agreed, and set about modernising the service, reducing its ties to the French military, and changing its name to DGSE. Marion clashed with Mitterrand over several issues, including the creation of an anti-terrorist cell operating from within the President's office, and in 1982 he was replaced by Admiral Pierre Lacoste.

Marion died in 2010 in Louviers.

## Questions

**When was Pierre Marion born?**  
Pierre Marion was born on 24 January 1921 in Marseille.

**What positions has Pierre Marion held?**  
Positions held by Pierre Marion include: president (1982–1986); Director of DGSE (1982–1982); director (1981–1982).

**Where did Pierre Marion study?**  
Pierre Marion was educated at École polytechnique.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Pierre Marion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_Marion) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q2093677](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2093677) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Lyon 5e - Rue Professeur Pierre Marion, plaques et feu pour piétons.jpg by Romainbehar (CC0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lyon_5e_-_Rue_Professeur_Pierre_Marion,_plaques_et_feu_pour_pi%C3%A9tons.jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Pierre Marion, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Lyon 5e - Rue Professeur Pierre Marion, plaques et feu pour piétons.jpg — Romainbehar, CC0.

## Cite this page

"Pierre Marion". DigiNepal. Last updated 31 October 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/pierre-marion. Retrieved 6 November 2026.