Educated at the University of Paris, Michel earned postgraduate degrees in economics at the Institute of Political Studies of Paris and the National School of Administration. Following his appointment as Administrateur Civil in the French Civil Service, Michel joined the Treasury in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Policies in 1960.
Working his way up the career ladder he reached the pinnacle of his profession when he was appointed Governor of the Bank of France in November 1984. He served in this post until he was appointed Managing Director of the IMF in 1987, only the seventh person in this role. Among the most important events of his tenure was the 1997 East Asian financial crisis.
Michel is currently the Honorary President of the Semaines Sociales de France and was a Member of the Commission for Africa established by Tony Blair as well as being part of the Pontifical Commission for Justice and Peace.
Further demonstrating that his interests extend beyond the issues of finance and his work as a business speaker, Michel is also heavily involved in African welfare and water sanitation. He is a member of the UN Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation and was the Chairman of the World Panel on Financing Water Infrastructure as well as being an influential Member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP), chaired by Kofi Annan.
Now known as a world-class keynote speaker and economics expert, he draws on many years of work alongside some of the most important economists and fellow finance speakers in Europe.
