Graduate, École Supérieure de Commerce de Paris. Since 1974, with Total: several positions in Finance Department and Exploration & Production division; 1995, President, Middle East; 1999, President, Exploration & Production division and Executive Committee; 2000, Senior Executive Vice-President, Exploration & Production division, TotalFinaElf group; 2002, President, Exploration & Production division; 2006, Member, Board of Directors; 2007, Chief Executive Officer; 2010, also Chairman. Recipient: Knight of the Legion of Honour (Légion d'Honneur), France; Officer of the National Order of Merit (Ordre National du Mérite), France.