Louis Nicollin

Louis Nicollin
Louis Nicollin in raffles for the Coupe de France 1978–1979 (left at the microphone).
Born	(1943-06-29) 29 June 1943 (age 73) Valence, France
Nationality	French
Occupation	Owner of Montpellier HSC and Le Groupe Nicollin (waste collection company)
Spouse(s)	Colette Nicollin
Children	2

Louis Nicollin (born 29 June 1943), is a French entrepreneur and director of the Nicollin Company, which specializes in the collection and reprocessing of household and industrial waste. Nicollin has also been the chairman of Montpellier Hérault Sport Club, a football team, since 1974.

Nicollin was born in Valence, capital of the Drôme department. As a young man he worked in the family business of waste collection. He became the manager in 1977 and developed its activity mainly in Montpellier, before spreading the company around France and creating overseas departments. The company has operations in Belgium and Morocco.

In 1974 he became chairman of the amateur football club Montpellier Paillade Sport Club, which played in the division d'honneur. Under his leadership, and the support of Mayor Georges Frêche, the club grew and was promoted to Ligue 1 within 8 years. It took the name of Montpellier Hérault Sport Club (MHSC) in 1989, the same year Nicollin became the sole shareholder. Under his leadership, the Montpellier has won the championship of Ligue 2 in 1987, the Coupe de France in 1990, and Ligue 1 in 2012.

Nicollin not only invests in football, but also in other sports. In rugby, the Nicollin Company was the main sponsor of the AS Béziers Hérault from 1999 to 2009. Then in 2009, through a holding in his name, Louis Nicollin became a shareholder in Montpellier Hérault Rugby Club. In 2000 he bought Paris Basket Racing and in 2002 Paris Handball. He placed his associates in charge of those teams, such as Varlot Gilbert and Jean-Claude Lemoult. He is also president of the Fédération Française de Joute et Sauvetage Nautique (FFJSN), a regulatory group for water jousting.