François Barrault

Engineer by education, he started his career as a researcher in Optical Network at IBM Labs (Research Center of La Gaude), before being promoted in the sales organization.

He held senior management positions at Computervision, and Stratus Computer, who was acquired by Ascend Communications, in 1998, where he became Senior Vice President International, until the company got acquired by Lucent Technologies, Inc. in 1999.

As a President and CEO of Lucent Technologies EMEA from 1999 to 2002 he successfully managed the integration of 38 companies acquired by Lucent.

Barrault was also co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Astria, an e-commerce software supplier.

In 2004 he was named CEO of BT Global Services and president of BT International, as well as a member of the BT Group Board and Operating Committee. He launched a bold programme of 160 acquisitions which help expanded the BT's services business, creating a world leader in Networked IT services. Barrault was also involved in global governance and sustainable development activities. He led the BT BetterWorld. During this period BT suffered a major profits warning from the division he was managing. In that period BT sponsored champion sailor Ellen MacArthur and her team.[2]

In September 2010, he was hired by NovaSparks in France as a director and strategic advisor.[3]

François Barrault is founder and chairman of FDB Partners,[4] an investment holding in technology, digital, and cleantech. He sits on the board of directors of several businesses: eServGlobal, Alpha Networks, La Baule Privileges and NovaSparks. He acts also as special advisor to IJ Partners (family office), Tactem, Mastek, ACE Fund, Ariadne Capital, The New York Forum, Studio Moderna and Recipco.

He 's currently Chairman of the IDATE Digiworld Institute,[1] a European centre of market analysis and debate, specialized in the TMT industry markets. He chairs the annual Digiworld Summit which takes place every November in Montpellier (South of France).