1966, graduate, Ecole Polytechnique; 1970, graduate, Ecole Nationale Sup+®rieure des Mines. 1973-75, Director, Mining and Geology, New Caledonia; 1975-78, Technical Adviser, Ministry of Industry; 1978-80, Technical Adviser, Ministry of Economic Affairs; 1981-83, Managing Director, Total Algeria. Total Exploration Production: 1983-87, Vice-President, Latin America and West Africa; 1988-89, Vice-President, Americas, France and Far East and in charge of Economic Affairs and Management Division; 1989-95, President and Member of the Executive Committee. 1995, President, Upstream Segment, Total; 1995-2003, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Total then Totalfina then TotalFinaElf; 2003-07, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Total; since February 2007, current position.