Jacques LAFITTE (82)
Jacques LAFITTE (82)
ENSAE / Sup’Aéro
Listed by the Financial Times in June 2009 among the 30 “Eurostars”, the prime influencers of policy and legislation in Brussels. The list comprised only two consultants. Finalist for the 2009 prize of ‘Consultant of the year’ in the European Public Affairs (EPA) Awards
PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND
May 2002 onwards
Avisa, Brussels. Founder and co-owner. Avisa is a EU public affairs consultancy of about 35 consultants primarily active in the fields of EU competition, energy, environment, mining and metals, financial services, intellectual property, aerospace, security and ICT (www.avisa.eu). Customers are mainly large companies from EU, US and Asia, with some trade associations and a few Governments.
September 2000 / April 2002
Microsoft, Brussels. Director of Corporate Affairs Europe. Creator and head of a team of 12 attorneys and Government affairs managers in charge of Microsoft’s relations with Governments and decision makers across the EU and in the Baltic countries. Personal focus on anti-trust. September 1999 / August 2000: Independent consultant, Brussels and Paris
January 1995 / September 1999
European Commission, Brussels. Member of the cabinet (private staff) of Yves-Thibault de Silguy, EU Commissioner for economic and monetary affairs. Within the cabinet, responsible for the euro (technical and legal aspects, communication) and for financial services.
1992 / 1994
French Treasury, Paris. Deputy head of the Treasury unit in charge of Government cash and debt management (20 heads). Personal focus on macroeconomics and relations with foreign investors.
1989 / 1991
French Department of Defence, Paris. Member of the steering group of the Rafale fighter programme. Responsible for the airframe development.
1987 / 1988
German Department of Defence and EADS Deutschland (at that time MBB), Bonn, Koblenz and Munich. Secondment to the German development team of the NH 90 transport helicopter (cooperation between France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands).
OTHER ACTIVITIES
President of two French start ups in the luxury business, vice-chairman of a Swiss life science fund.
Owner of a Japanese restaurant in Paris (www.icho.fr).
Author of several books on Europe, including one published three times in France and once in Japan.
Occasional EU chronicler on the BBC and the Swiss radio and lecturer at several universities.
Until 1992: plane pilot (900 flying hours, IFR and multi-engine qualifications