Thierry Breton

An engineer in computer science, Thierry Breton begins his career as a tech entrepreneur.

In 1981, he starts an SME in the United States, Forma Systems, which he heads for 5 years. During

that period, he publishes a number of techno-thrillers, including Softwar, with 2 million copies sold

and translated into more than twenty languages around the world.

In France, he designs and then leads Futuroscope, the first science and technology theme park,

between 1986 and 1990. In parallel, he is regional councillor and then Vice-President of Poitou-

Charentes region from 1986 to 1992.

He then runs a number of large companies in the IT and new tech sector. He leads Bull from 1993 to

1997, before taking over the leadership of Thomson Multimedia, a global electronics company. In

2002, he is appointed CEO of multinational telco operator France Télécom.

In 2005, he is appointed Minister for Economic Affairs, Finance and Industry of France, a post which

he holds until 2007.

Following his ministerial office, he teaches governance in Boston, at Harvard Business School.

In 2009, he becomes Chief Executive Officer of Atos, a digital technology and service company, until

2019.

He chairs ANRT, the National Research and Technology Association, until 2019.

In 2019, he becomes the European Commissioner for the Internal Market. He was responsible until

October 2024 for industry, services, digital, defence and space, as well as tourism and audiovisual.

Thierry Breton is a member of the French Academy of Technology.