He graduated from ESSEC Business school in 1979 and the École nationale d'administration (ENA) in 1983 (promotion Solidarity).

[3][4] De Chalendar began his career at the General Inspection of Finance (IGF) from 1983 to 1987.

He then served as corporate vice president of Saint-Gobain Corp. (USA) and managing director of Norton Abrasives Europe from 1992 to 1996, president of the worldwide Abrasives Division and chairman and CEO of Norton SA from 1996 to 2000, general delegate for the United Kingdom and Ireland and chief executive of Meyer International from 2000 to 2003, and senior vice-president of Compagnie de Saint-Gobain in charge of the Building Distribution Sector from 2003 to 2005.

He has been appointed by the board of directors of Saint-Gobain as chairman and CEO since 3 June 2010, after the general meeting of shareholders.

In 1989 De Chalendar married Leticia, daughter of Sir Peter Petrie, 5th Baronet.