The Harvard Club of France is run by a team of alumni of College and of all Graduate Schools who represent the diversity of degrees, nationalities and professional activities.
2010-2011 Executive Committee
Philippe Le Corre (IAF '04)President
Philippe is a Partner with Corporate communications & PR firm Publicis Consultants and a Lecturer at the Paris Institute of Political Studies. He previously served as an adviser to the French Minister of Defense and as a senior policy analyst with the Ministry's policy planning staff. He also worked as a Foreign correspondent for 14 years in Asia and Europe and was a Fellow of the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University ('03-'04). He is an Arthur Sachs scholar. Philippe is the author of 4 books and numerous articles mainly on China in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Le Monde and Foreign Policy. He sits on the supervisory board of the French-American Foundation (France).
Benoît Rossi, MPP '06, Kennedy School of GovernmentVice-President
Benoît B. Rossi, MPP, Kennedy School of Government, 2006 Benoît works on the development of 'Public Private Partnerships' (PPP) in Europe for the subsidiary of a Spanish infrastructure firm specialized in managing highways, airports, logistics platforms and telecom networks. He also holds a Master of Science in Transport Engineering from the University of New of South Wales, Australia. Prior to joining the Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, Benoît spent eight years in the Asia Pacific. He lived two years in Singapore and spent six years in Australia working both for private and public entities and, in particular, the State government. At the Kennedy School, Benoît specialized in public policies as well as business and government relationships. He authored a report on e-health for the OECD.
Meriem Ait Ali Slimane, MPA/ID '08, Harvard Kennedy School Vice-President
Meriem has been working at the World Bank on private sector development issues in the Middle East and North Africa since her graduation from Harvard Kennedy School in 2008. At the Kennedy School, she studied international development and was a beneficiary of the Harvard Public Service Scholarship as well as the co-chair of the Arab Caucus. Prior to that, Meriem worked in Paris for five years as an engineer then as a forecasting manager in strategy at SFR, the second largest telecoms operator in France. She holds an Engineering degree from Ecole Nationale Polytechnique in Algiers and a Master’s degree from Ecole Centrale de Paris.
Claire Mays Poumadère, A.B. '81, Harvard CollegeSecretary-General, First Vice President, Vice President for College Interviewing, Honorary Board Member
Claire is an American who has lived in France since her graduation from Harvard and Radcliffe in 1981/82. She studied Psychology and Social Relations at Harvard and Clinical Social Psychology at Paris 7-Censier. Claire is an independent researcher and consultant with Institut Symlog in Paris. Her domain is governance of technological and natural risk and the empowerment of local communities. She is Radcliffe Class Secretary for Class of 1981 and is a founder of HASA (Harvard Alumni for Social Action). Claire has interviewed lycée candidates for Harvard College since arriving in France, and now coordinates a team of about 15 alumni interviewers (a core of longtime members and others newly arrived or passing through). The team was honored through Claire with the 2004 Hunn Award of Harvard University "for loyalty, dedication and longstanding effort in behalf of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee".
Felicia A. Henderson, JD '97, Harvard Law School
Vice-President, Membership
Felicia is an American who has lived in Paris since 2001. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1997, Felicia began her career as a corporate lawyer in the New York office of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, a large international law firm. She moved to the firm’s Paris office in July 2001 and continued to practice corporate law with Debevoise until early 2010. Following over a dozen years of working as a large-firm lawyer, Felicia is enjoying time off to pursue personal interests. Felicia received a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in French Studies and International Comparative Studies in 1994. While at Harvard Law School, Felicia served as Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Women’s Law Journal. Felicia is a member of the New York bar and has passed the Article 100 equivalency exam for foreign lawyers wishing to be admitted to practice in France.
Vice-President, Membership
Felicia is an American who has lived in Paris since 2001. After graduating from Harvard Law School in 1997, Felicia began her career as a corporate lawyer in the New York office of Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, a large international law firm. She moved to the firm’s Paris office in July 2001 and continued to practice corporate law with Debevoise until early 2010. Following over a dozen years of working as a large-firm lawyer, Felicia is enjoying time off to pursue personal interests. Felicia received a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University in French Studies and International Comparative Studies in 1994. While at Harvard Law School, Felicia served as Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Women’s Law Journal. Felicia is a member of the New York bar and has passed the Article 100 equivalency exam for foreign lawyers wishing to be admitted to practice in France.
Nicolas Landrin, MBA '99, Harvard Business SchoolImmediate Past President
Nicolas Landrin is a Partner with I-Source Gestion, a leading venture capital firm focused on early stage investments in information technologies and communications. He currently sits on the board of directors of six early-stage technology companies. Nicolas has 18 years of experience in the telecommunications and software industry and in private equity. He also teaches Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics at MBA HEC. Nicolas earned his M.S. degree from ENSTB in 1991 and his MBA from Harvard Business School in 1999. He is an Arthur Sachs Scholar and a beneficiary of the Harvard French Scholarship Fund. Over the last few years, Nicolas has been active in the HBS Club de France, within the Commission Coaching & Networking, the Harvard French Scholarship Fund, which he co-led with other beneficiaries and the Association des Boursiers Arthur Sachs. He also created two years ago an informal club of HBS graduates working in hi-tech, which gathers every year in Barcelona.
Ned Gubbins, A.B. '94, Harvard CollegeFormer President, Honorary Board Member
After working as a Researcher / Writer at the White House Office of Communications in 1994, Ned Gubbins spent the next nine years working as a management consultant in Washington and Paris before gravitating to the film world. In 2004 he co-founded éO Productions, an independent film production company based in Paris, to produce original, cinematographic documentaries and feature films with international appeal. In his days at Harvard College, Ned was President of Currier House and elected Marshall of his College Class. After graduation he got involved in alumni activities, first at the Harvard Club of Washington, DC, and then at the Harvard Club of France, which elected him President in 2002. After a four-year tenure as President, Ned has continued to stay involved as a Board Member and member of the Club’s new Honorary Board. Ned is likewise a member of Harvardwood and has organized a Harvard event at the Cannes Film Festival for the past three years.
Carine Barco, MBA '95, Harvard Business School
Vice-President
For the past twelve years, Carine Barco has dedicated herself to helping others through coaching, therapy and yoga training. It was, however, in the financial world of international M&A at Smith Barney in New York that she began her career before obtaining her MBA at Harvard and then becoming a consultant with McKinsey in London. It was at this time she decided to devote herself completely to her passion: holistic health and well-being. Of French-Spanish origins, Carine has lived a large part of her life abroad: England, Latin-America and the United States.
Vice-President
For the past twelve years, Carine Barco has dedicated herself to helping others through coaching, therapy and yoga training. It was, however, in the financial world of international M&A at Smith Barney in New York that she began her career before obtaining her MBA at Harvard and then becoming a consultant with McKinsey in London. It was at this time she decided to devote herself completely to her passion: holistic health and well-being. Of French-Spanish origins, Carine has lived a large part of her life abroad: England, Latin-America and the United States.
Marie Baudron, MBA '03, Harvard Business SchoolVice-President
Marie Baudron is a consultant in the Financial Practice group at Egon Zehnder International, an international executive search firm. Marie Baudron joined Egon Zehnder International in 2006. Prior to becoming an executive recruiter, Marie was an Engagement Manager with McKinsey & Co. Marie graduated from ESCP in 1998, with a major in finance, and later completed her MBA at the Harvard Business School in 2003. For the past 2 years, Marie has been active in the HBS Club de France, within the Commission Coaching & Networking and as an organizer of get-togethers for recent HBS graduates who live in Paris.
Kai Carver, A.B. '85, Harvard College
Vice-President
Kai Carver is a computer programmer and occasional translator. He is currently working for a small French web startup. He is interested in the Internet, languages, old music, old paintings, bicycling, and running.
Vice-President
Kai Carver is a computer programmer and occasional translator. He is currently working for a small French web startup. He is interested in the Internet, languages, old music, old paintings, bicycling, and running.
Emmanuel Cassimatis, MBA '09, Harvard Business SchoolVice-President
Emmanuel founded Goodwizz, a global social meeting network that helps people go beyond first contact online. Emmanuel previously co-founded an energy company, EGG-energy, and founded an ngo, Paper for All. Previously, Emmanuel worked in business development at Sanrio and management consulting at Deloitte & Touche. He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master from Edhec Business School. Emmanuel likes travels, languages, horse-riding, scuba-diving, chess, skiing, biking.
Jonathan Kamler, A.B. '07, Harvard College
Vice-President
Jonathan is French-American and Director of Research & Development at LaboGroup, an art-science innovation incubator based in Paris. He was born in New York and graduated from the College in 2007 with an honors degree in physics, having done research in laser nano-neurosurgery, bio-satellite engineering, fluidic displays, and inhalable aerosols. He now works on novel ideas and devices inspired from, and with applications to, medicine, the environment, health, and gastronomy. His interests include international affairs, linguistics, sailing, skiing, and baseball.
Vice-President
Jonathan is French-American and Director of Research & Development at LaboGroup, an art-science innovation incubator based in Paris. He was born in New York and graduated from the College in 2007 with an honors degree in physics, having done research in laser nano-neurosurgery, bio-satellite engineering, fluidic displays, and inhalable aerosols. He now works on novel ideas and devices inspired from, and with applications to, medicine, the environment, health, and gastronomy. His interests include international affairs, linguistics, sailing, skiing, and baseball.
Elizabeth Kan, A.B. '85 Harvard CollegeVice-President
Elizabeth Kan is Director of Synergies and of Retail Training for luxury brand Louis Vuitton in Paris. A 1985 graduate of Harvard College in Government, she began her career at McKinsey & Company in Los Angeles. In 1990 she received a Rotary Fellowship to study fashion design in Paris at, l'Ecole de la Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Parisienne. While working at the House of Givenchy, she had the chance to witness both the last period of traditional Haute Couture, under Monsieur Hubert de Givenchy, and the dawn of a new era, with the arrival of John Galliano at the revered house. After a rich cross-cultural experience at Kenzo, she went on to become Director of the Ready-to-Wear business unit at Céline, where she worked with Michael Kors. In 2009 she joined Louis Vuitton to work on Synergies and Training, across all product categories.
Larissa Pommeraud, A.B. '99, Harvard CollegeVice-President
Larissa Pommeraud is the "Chief of Staff" of the EMEA Managing Director of management consultancy Bain & Company, managing the firm's strategy, operations, marketing and business development. Prior to moving to Paris in 2009 with her French husband, Larissa worked as a consultant across numerous industries from Bain's Boston, Chicago, and Sydney offices. She also served as Vice President of Brand and Business Strategy at Arnold Worldwide, a Boston-based advertising agency and subsidiary of Havas. Larissa earned her MBA from INSEAD in 2003, studying international business in both Singapore and France, and received a Bachelor of Arts in environmental science & public policy and economics, magna cum laude from Harvard College in 1999.
Lynn Yu, A.B. '07, Harvard College Vice-President
Lynn Yu is a senior financial analyst at Michel Dyens & Co. in Paris, a leading investment banking firm focused on mergers and acquisitions in the fields of luxury, beauty, media and other premium branded goods. Prior to joining Michel Dyens, Lynn worked as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York. While at Harvard, Lynn served as the President and Conference Chair of the Harvard China Review, an active student organization that hosts the largest China-related annual conference in North America. Meanwhile, she also actively led Harvard’s largest annual conferences in Asia - the HPAIR annual conferences (Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations) - in Shanghai and Tokyo in 2004 and 2005, respectively. In addition, she was also an active participant of the Harvard Vestis Council, a student organization that is devoted to fine arts and fashion. Lynn holds an A.B. cum laude in economics from Harvard College, with a foreign language citation in French. Native Mandarin speaker. In her spare time, Lynn is interested in fashion / painting, traveling, foreign languages, social psychology and war strategies.
Lynn Yu is a senior financial analyst at Michel Dyens & Co. in Paris, a leading investment banking firm focused on mergers and acquisitions in the fields of luxury, beauty, media and other premium branded goods. Prior to joining Michel Dyens, Lynn worked as an investment banking analyst at Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York. While at Harvard, Lynn served as the President and Conference Chair of the Harvard China Review, an active student organization that hosts the largest China-related annual conference in North America. Meanwhile, she also actively led Harvard’s largest annual conferences in Asia - the HPAIR annual conferences (Harvard Project for Asian and International Relations) - in Shanghai and Tokyo in 2004 and 2005, respectively. In addition, she was also an active participant of the Harvard Vestis Council, a student organization that is devoted to fine arts and fashion. Lynn holds an A.B. cum laude in economics from Harvard College, with a foreign language citation in French. Native Mandarin speaker. In her spare time, Lynn is interested in fashion / painting, traveling, foreign languages, social psychology and war strategies.
Roland Ziadé, LL.M '02, Harvard Law SchoolVice-PresidentRoland Ziadé is a lawyer and a member of the Bars in Paris, New York, and Beirut. He is also a member of the international arbitration practice group of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, based in Paris. Roland holds a D.E.A. in private international law from the University of Paris II-Assas (1996), a D.E.S.S. in international business law from the University of Paris I-Sorbonne (1996), and an LL.M from Harvard Law School, where he was a Fulbright Scholar (2002). Roland regularly acts as counsel and arbitrator in international arbitration proceedings.
Honorary Board / 2010-2011
The Honorary Board is composed of individuals, who have demonstrated outstanding support to the HCF or to Harvard University.
The current Honorary Board is composed of 13 members:
- Douglass CARVER (College 1959), former HCF President
- Alain CORNET-VERNET (GSD 1965), former HCF President
- David EDWARDS, Gordon McKay Professor of the Practice of Biomedical Engineering, Founder of Le Laboratoire
- Ned GUBBINS (College 1994), former HCF President
- Philip KIMBROUGH (HLS 1980), former HCF President
- His Excellency the Ambassador of Georgia Mamuka KUDAVA (KSG Alumnus)
- Nicolas Landrin (HBS MBA 1999), former HCF President
- His Excellency the Ambassador of Canada to France Marc LORTIE (IAF 1997)
- Mrs Patricia Lortie (College; IAF 1997)
- Claire MAYS (College 1981), Vice President for College Interviewing
- His Excellency Charles H. RIVKIN, Ambassador of the United States to France (HBS MBA 1988)
- Timothy RYBACK (GSAS 1987), Deputy Secretary General, Academie Diplomatique Internationale
- Jacques SALES (HLS 1967), former President of the Harvard Law School Alumni Association
- Mrs Susan TOLSON (HBS MBA 1988)
- Sally WILLIAMS-ALLEN (GSE 1965), former HCF President
