He is at his best when the stakes are high and the situation is complex or under pressure, requiring both speed and judgement – finding a way forward quickly, but never hastily. He enjoys designing strategy as much as taking it into the room : debating and testing arguments with decision-makers, building alliances and working as one team with clients. He focuses on what can shift the dynamics and make change possible: clear on the objective, flexible on the route, and committed to delivering impact.

Etienne is endlessly curious. He wants to understand how an industry or a market really works, looking at an issue from every angle — political, economic and legal — and bringing in lawyers, economists or other experts. He has a particular interest in industry, energy and transport, and his drawn to situations where the odds are not necessarily in a clients favour — whether a new entrant is breaking into a market or an established player is challenging the status quo.

Etienne’s career has taken him from the European Parliament to industry at Alstom, and then to advising clients on French and European public affairs. In 2018, he co-founded Blue Star Strategies SAS with Mathilde Defarges, in partnership with Blue Star Strategies LLC. Together, they have built a boutique public affairs consultancy that combines strategic advice with hands-on engagement and close involvement in every assignment.