It is with great sadness and regret that the ESA BUSINESS SCHOOL informs you about the passing of its much beloved Director General, Stéphane Attali.
Being in charge since 2009, Stéphane Attali gave our institution its finest and noblest letters, allowing it to shine academically both in Lebanon and the region, despite an economic and political context that was difficult at times. With his great devotion, he inspired his staff and all of his surrounding, and spread a deep will to move on and surpass oneself, to form the leaders of tomorrow, and grant those men and women keys to unlock remarkable carriers within their enterprises.
Pushed by a visionary director endowed with a sense of entrepreneurship and building, ESA metamorphosed, upgraded, acquired new dynamism and shone with its ideas, tenacity, optimism, and permanent will to act and always aim higher.
Stéphane Attali set values for all to honor among employees, students, alumni, friends, clients, providers, and partners. His professionalism, respect, openness, and innovation were an inbuilt part of his daily life. We will forever cherish his values; we will forever cherish his teachings; and we will pass his legacy on.
Today, ESA is crying… it is orphaned and lost a father, a director, a leader, and mostly a friend who knew how to find the right words, gestures, and comforting thoughts in all circumstances. Stephane, thank you… thank you for everything that you gave to this institution, thank you for your devotion, thank you for being all what you were.
Biography :
Stéphane Attali held the position of Director General of the ESA since 2009, having received degrees from the Paris Dauphine University and from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po).
He started his professional carrier as a advisor at a consultancy cabinet in Paris.
He joined the international management of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris in 1999.
From 2002 to 2007, he was dispatched for the first time to Beirut to join the ESA, a Great School of Management that was founded by the Lebanese and the French governments, under the management of Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Paris-Ile-de-France. He held the position of responsible of pedagogic development, and developed the School’s Business Cluster.
He then joined ESCP Europe, the Great School of Management of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, as assistant to the Director General, and was in charge of general matters, before going back to Beirut in January 2009.
He was president of the Meref – CCI France Liban, which was born, in April 2008, from the collaboration of French and Lebanese business owners, with the support of the Economic Mission of the French Embassy in Lebanon.
In October 2018, Stéphane Attali was made Knight of the French National Order of Merit by the French Ambassador in Lebanon Bruno Foucher, and received the Gold Medal of the Order of Lebanese Health Merit from the Lebanese President Michel Aoun.