Biography
Trained in Mathematics (first part of a PhD) and Economy (PhD, on the Financing of the American Energy policy), graduated from Ecole Nationale d’Administration. His career started at the IMF, then at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where he created a department dedicated to “Technology and National Security” and then became national security adviser of the Minister.
After three years in this position, he left the government to join the leading European satellite manufacturer (Astrium, n°2 worldwide) as the head of business development. After four years, he left Astrium to become the number 2 of Airbus, the world’s largest commercial aircraft manufacturer. Ten years after, he created his own company, PhD Associates, that he still runs today. He also is senior advisor to Morgan Stanley.
PhD Associates has two main lines of business. One is an advisory business, dedicated to large industrial companies, mainly in the fields of Aerospace, Infrastructure and Energy. The other is an investment business in start-ups, with a portfolio of 5 companies as of today.
He always has had a strong interest in cinema, including as a powerful tool of corporate communication.
When at Airbus, at the time of the launch of the A380, he decided to make a movie to tell the story of the making of the first aircraft, which he entrusted to Martin Scorsese.
This was also the opportunity to meet with Oliver Stone with whom he kept a strong personal relation since then. When Oliver Stone decided to make a movie about Climate Change, he naturally turned to Philippe, both to discuss the substance and politics of the matter and to help raise the financing of the production.
Apart of business, Philippe is a dedicated mountain climber, with a special interest for big and remote mountains like Cho Oyu (Tibet, north face, 8201m), Everest (Tibet, north east ridge, stop 8300m), first crossing of Tibet’s Central Plateau since 1907, Aconcagua (Argentina, 7000m), Manaslu (Nepal, 8160m), Mount Vinson (Antarctica, 5 200m), Parrish Peak (Central Antarctica, second ascent).