Mysteriously disappeared on August 17, 2022 in a forest in Maine-et-Loire, the body of Yvon Gérard was never found. Real estate developer, notary, businessman… he wore many hats. Criticized by some, revered by others, he notably initiated a vast ten-story hotel project in Metz and the Moselle Open (November 2 – November 9) in the same city.
A mysterious disappearance
Born in February 1968, Yvon Gérard completed his schooling in Metz before setting up his notary office there, which he then transferred to Paris. On the day of his disappearance, Yvon Gérard, 54, left the vast Godinière estate, his second home in Allonnes, near Saumur, to go to a psychiatrist. In any case, that’s what he tells his wife before leaving. The latter never saw him again and discovered his Porsche Cayenne a few hours later 4.5 km from the house.
Several hypotheses are then considered: a suicide, a voluntary disappearance or a murder? After more than two years of investigations, the investigation has closed a few doors and the suicide trail seems the most likely – he had left a letter to his family, explaining his intention to end his life. The investigating judge could also soon dismiss the case, thus putting an end to this case.
Yvon Gérard was an illustrious unknown in Maine-et-Loire but in Moselle, he was a renowned but controversial personality. A notary who offered advice and support to entrepreneurs who want to develop their companies. The Metz businessman was also a real estate developer. He was notably at the origin of a vast hotel project of 103 rooms on ten floors, imagined by the designer Philippe Starck.
Yvon Gérard was an unpredictable man, capable of taking on challenges such as crossing the Atlantic, climbing mountain peaks or even jumping on a plane on a whim to see AC/DC in concert on the other side of the world.
Creator and general manager of the Moselle Open until 2016
In 2002, on the night following his defeat at the Rotterdam tournament, Julien Boutter drew on a piece of paper, with his friend Yvon Gérard, the outline of the Moselle Open. They don't know it yet but the two men have just created an event which, by the proportions it will reach, will become bigger than them. The late Patrice Domniguez, who had just lost his tournament, joined them after the explosion at the AZF factory in Toulouse. The Moselle Open was born in 2003. Everything is going well, the editions continue until… 2016.
That year, Yvon Gérard announced the sale of the tournament to Robert Han, a Taiwanese businessman. “We have been in a very delicate situation for several years. With death in my soul, I preferred to sell instead of going into trouble”he declares to Republican Lorraine on October 9.
The need to attract players from the Top 10 imposes a budget that the Moselle Open can no longer meet (the City of Metz having withdrawn) and the creation of Roger Federer's tournament in Prague on the same dates sounds the death knell for the competition. Messina.
Yvon Gérard's announcement causes excitement and the first rescue operation of the tournament begins. On November 16, the ATP refused the sale of the tournament to Taiwan due to the lack of consensus within the steering committee and opposition from players to see the tournament leave France.
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Six years later after several failed attempts at resumption, the ATP finally chose to regain control of the Moselle Open. If the 2024 and 2025 editions will take place in Metz, the rest seems more uncertain and will take place without Yvon Gérard.
