Le Prix
Charbonnier

Federation of Alliances Françaises USA’s most prestigious award, was created in 1991 to recognize M. Daniel Charbonnier of San Francisco, a past President of the Federation of AF USA, who exemplified all of the best qualities of this organization.

2024 Prix Charbonnier Award Recipient:

Mark Pigott

Mark Pigott, Executive Chairman of PACCAR Inc, is the recipient of the 2024 Prix Charbonnier award. Mr. Pigott is the fourth generation of his family to lead PACCAR, a $35 billion technology company that designs and manufactures Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF trucks worldwide. He is recognized in the United States and France as a leading industrialist and a major patron of the arts and humanities. In November 2022, he was awarded the Legion of Honor medal by former Ambassador of France to the United States, Philippe Etienne. The ceremony was held at the French Ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C. The Ambassador noted, “Mr. Pigott has been instrumental in developing a strong relationship between France and PACCAR and has been a passionate supporter for the preservation of the precious heritage of the French National Library as well as the Louvre.” In 2015, he was awarded the Chevalier of the French Order of Arts and Letters by Thomas Michelon, Deputy Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy. 

Mr. Pigott’s support of the French National Library helped establish new scholarships for study in the arts. PACCAR is a major donor of the Thomas Jefferson Fund, which supports research collaboration between young researchers in France and the United States.  He is also a Life Member of the American Friends of the Louvre. In addition to his recognition in the United States and France, Mr. Pigott has received recognition from the governments of Hungary, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, where he was honored as a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

In the French-American diaspora of the Pacific Northwest, Mr. Pigott was recognized with the Extraordinary Award in Culture and Education at the prestigious French-American Business Awards event in May 2016. PACCAR’s and his family’s support of the French-connected organizations in the Puget Sound region helps facilitate French student internship programs from the Grandes Écoles as well as major public cultural education programs, including Seattle’s citywide French Fest, where the Alliance Française of Seattle is a pivotal participant.