He was assassinated outside his Paris home in front of one of his children by the armed group Action directe while he was the CEO of car manufacturer Renault.
Labor unions opposed his actions in Europe, as well as his support for Renault's investments in the United States, such as American Motors (AMC), which was also financially unsound.
While some Renault executives and labor leaders perceived AMC with negative bias, Besse championed the future in the North American market just as Jeep four-wheel drives were riding an unprecedented surge in demand.
Two women, Nathalie Ménigon and Joëlle Aubron, were charged with his murder in March 1987 and were sentenced to life imprisonment in 1989.
Two other Action Directe members, Jean-Marc Rouillan and Georges Cipriani, were convicted as accomplices and also sentenced to life imprisonment.