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Richard Attias, born on November 19, 1959 in Fès, Morocco, is quite a character. At 65 years old, he stands about 1.80m tall, and plays the role of an international businessman who gets noticed, especially once you start to understand the weight of what he has built. Well, on the love side, you probably guessed, his marriage to Cécilia Attias, the former wife of Nicolas Sarkozy, does not go unnoticed.
It’s crazy how atypical his journey is, isn’t it? An engineer by training with a master’s degree in mathematics and physics from INSA Toulouse, he starts off quite classically at IBM. But it’s clearly events management that sticks to him. Very quickly, he jumps into communication and sets up events you have surely come across without knowing it.
The guy is not at all the type to stay in his place. In 2008, he set up his company in New York, Richard Attias & Associates, and there, it exploded. The New York Forum, the New York Forum Africa, Doha Goals Forum… so many meetings where the big global decision-makers intersect. It’s impressive, but be careful, that’s also what earned him some criticism (yes, not everything is rosy).
His name is often associated with major events, and sometimes controversies. Like he is mentioned in the Panama Papers, and his Dubai residence makes headlines… But frankly, that has never tarnished his aura. He continues to organize big things, always with this idea: to gather, innovate, create connections on a large scale. A true figure to follow over here.
Who is Richard Attias? A journey between Morocco and the world stage
Son of a modest Moroccan Jewish family from Fès, Richard was immersed very early in an environment where work and culture had a huge place. He was never the type to take it easy. His public identity, you mostly know it through his events that bring together elites but also through his marriage to Cécilia, an unexpected spotlight.
If you didn’t know, he studied at INSA Toulouse, a super serious place, with a master’s in math and physics. From there, he founded Junior INSA Services, proof that he’s had an entrepreneurial spirit for a long time. In 1983, he started at IBM, which laid the foundations, but he quickly switched to communication, which would become his main playground.
He grew up far from red carpets, from spotlight, but today he is a regular of global circles. Imagine a guy who organizes the launch ceremony of the euro and who is also behind the scenes of major political congresses. Yes, he’s a man with many hats, playing on several fields at the same time.
You could say his name resonates mostly in business and events circles. And by the way, if you want to know more about this guy who organizes sometimes gigantic stuff without (often) you noticing his hand behind the curtain, it happens over here.
The major turning points of his career: from IBM to Publicis and beyond
He began as a commercial engineer at IBM, but very quickly, Richard understood that his thing was not selling machines, but rather connecting people through events. He moved to Econocom then to Nephtalie, the start of his event adventures.
His expertise really hit hard when he landed the World Economic Forum in Davos as a client as early as 1994. There, he had front-row seats, he saw how international meetings that move the world are organized, and he quickly learned to play in the big leagues.
In 2007, with Publicis, he founded PublicisLive, an agency dedicated to prestigious events. It was a real masterstroke. He organized the launch of the euro in France in 2000 (yes, you read that right, he was already there before the event became historic), and even took care of the UMP congress in 2004, a huge political thing.
In 2008, he made the big shift with Richard Attias & Associates. An agency launched in New York that aimed straight for the global summits. The New York Forum became an annual institution, even the New York Forum Africa tries to open debates on the continent, despite some controversies. A crazy journey, really to discover in more detail.
Private life and anecdotes: the intimate side of the great businessman
On the love front, expect drama worthy of a novel… In 2005, his affair with Cécilia Sarkozy broke out in the open, you know, Nicolas Sarkozy’s wife. It made a huge noise, the press grabbed it, photos on a terrace in New York and all the hullabaloo. Then, finally, in 2008, they got married in a highly publicized ceremony at the Rockefeller Center.
On the family side, he is father to a daughter, Alexandra, from a previous union, and apparently he really tries to keep that balance between personal life and globetrotter job. He is also passionate about sports, especially tennis and golf, a kind of mix that seems to help him keep a cool head despite his minister-level schedule.
Intriguing point: he is mentioned in the Panama Papers for the use of offshore companies, he fully assumes it, explaining that it is part of the strategy to develop his businesses. Dubai as a residence, no taxes in Morocco, he fully embraces this position, which does cause some grumbling.
To dive deeper into his secrets and some juicy anecdotes, take a look at the info offered on the Gala file. You’ll see, he’s not a man like the others.
Recent projects and vision for Richard Attias’s future
In 2025, Richard Attias remains very active, even if he now plays more of a mentor or advisor role, notably after stepping down from the leadership of the FII Institute in Riyadh. He highlights in his speeches the importance of passing the torch to a new generation, more visionary and connected.
Richard continues to infuse his ideas in how major economic forums should renew themselves, focusing on innovation, sustainability and the digital economy – topics close to his heart. He has never really left the stage, even if the spotlights are less on him than before.
Between his collaborations in the Middle East and his commitments in Africa, he appears as an essential figure to understand some of the major economic meetings on the planet. Not bad for a guy who started as an engineer at IBM, right?
If you want to follow his news and projects, the best is to take a look at this detailed page where everything is regularly updated.
Key milestones in Richard Attias’s career 🏆
- 🎓 Technical training at INSA Toulouse (Mathematics, Physics)
- 💼 Started at IBM in 1983, commercial engineer
- 🌍 Collaboration with the World Economic Forum since 1994
- 🚀 Creation of PublicisLive in 2007 with Publicis Groupe
- 🌆 Foundation of Richard Attias & Associates in New York in 2008
- 🌐 Organization of the New York Forum, New York Forum Africa, Doha Goals Forum
- 💍 High-profile marriage with Cécilia Attias in 2008
- ➡️ Passing the torch at the FII Institute in 2025
Who is Richard Attias?
A Moroccan entrepreneur and organizer of international-scale events, born in 1959 in Fès, known for his prestigious events and his marriage to Cécilia Attias.
What is Richard Attias’s education?
He graduated from INSA Toulouse with a master’s in mathematics and physics, before starting at IBM.
What major events does he organize?
Among the most famous are the New York Forum, the New York Forum Africa, and the Doha Goals Forum.
Is Richard Attias involved in controversies?
Yes, notably with the Panama Papers and criticisms regarding the economic impact of some events he organizes.
How to follow Richard Attias’s news?
By regularly consulting sites like Franco Wiki or media specialized in economy and society.
