Bernard Attali

Bernard Attali recently joined Orrick as Special Advisor in the Paris office, focusing on strategy and business development initiatives with Orrick’s Managing Partner for Europe.

Mr. Attali was recently at the highest level of Cour des Comptes (French National Audit Office). For several years, he has been a Professor in Ecole Nationale d’Administration (ENA) and Institut d’Etudes Politiques for several years. Among other appointments, he has been CEO of Air France and Chairman of the Paris Region’s Economic Development Agency, the main platform in charge of economic development for Paris and the Ile-de-France Region.

Bernard Attali has had very visible positions both in public and private sector. As civil servant, he has been in charge of regional economic development for the French government and had to manage branches worldwide in order to attract foreign investors. In the private sector he was, first, appointed CEO of Club Med, and responsible for important strategic business negotiations.

As Chairman and Chief Executive of Groupe des Assurances Nationales, the fourth largest French insurance group, he headed the acquisition of Minster, the English insurance company (first move of a French insurance company in the British market). At the same time, in 1984 and 1985, Bernard Attali also headed the acquisition of one third of Credit Industriel et Commercial, one of the largest French banks.

In-charge of Commercial Union France (and special advisor in Europe), he organized its restructuring in France (CU Holding) and listed the English Insurance Group on the Paris Stock Exchange. He also took a large stake for CU in Société Générale during the privatization process of this bank.

During the last twenty years, Bernard Attali has been member of the Board of six French banks including Banque de l’Industrie Française, Crédit Industriel et Commercial, Société Générale and Banque Nationale de Paris.

As Chairman of Air France, Bernard Attali achieved the merger between AF and the airline UTA and headed the take over of Air Inter, the largest European domestic airline valued at 1 billion euros. At the same time he conducted a very active strategy of international alliances, taking stakes in Sabena (Belgium) and CSA (ex Tchekoslovakia) while building partnerships with Air Canada, Continental, Aeromexico, Air Vietnam, and RAM.

In 1992 Bernard Attali was Chairman of IATA’s executive committee and of AEA (Associate of European Airlines). He continues to have strong connections with engine and airline business leaders both in France and abroad. He was non-executive director of Matra-Aerospatiale in 2000 (before EADS). Bernard Attali was – between 1993 and 1996 – member of the executive committee of Lagardère Matra Group.

During his career in investment banking (Arjil & Cie, subsidiary of Lagardère - Matra, Bankers Trust and Deutsche Bank) Bernard Attali originated and completed some significant transactions. He had frequently to deal with EU authorities and chaired the European Committee for Regional Economic Development.

As an Officier de la Légion d’Honneur, he was recently promoted as Commandeur de l’Ordre du Mérite, a highly regarded award, by the French Minister of European Affairs.