Friday, October 21, returning from a European Council in Brussels, before working on his speech in Rome on peace, Emmanuel Macron stopped at Art Basel, the prestigious international fair of contemporary art which has just replaced in Paris a FIAC forty-seven years old. From the ephemeral Grand Palais, artists and gallery owners have posted photos with the Head of State on TikTok. A few steps back, suit adjusted, bright smile, a man savors this moment. The one who attracted the President of the Republic there was, a few weeks ago, the partner of the fund of James Murdoch, Lupa Systems, which invests in art and the media, and precisely allowed the holding of this meeting you Parisian. Her name ? Frederic Michel, new “special adviser on communication” by Emmanuel Macron – sound « chief adviser »is called the interested party with a touch of English accent.
The scenario of the arrival of this close to business circles at the Elysée Palace is so unusual that it deserves some attention. Former chief lobbyist of the Murdochs, in charge of the relations of these media magnates with European political leaders, fed to the trades of hard influence, in the Anglo-Saxon style, Frédéric Michel took office on September 15. He succeeds Clément Leonarduzzi, who has returned to Publicis, and the historian Joseph Zimet. In an unprecedented mix of genres, Mr. Michel entered the presidential palace thanks to some pillars of French business, his former allies in business.
Anyone living in New York knows that Leonarduzzi wants to leave the Elysée after the presidential election. In the spring, he opens up about his desire to take over from influential friends. Everyone cheers for this man “very smart”, “very professional business” et “ultra-connected” – these are their words. Some have access to the Head of State or his entourage: businessman Xavier Niel (Iliad, Free, individual shareholder of Monde), Jean-Charles Tréhan, head of external relations for the luxury giant LVMH, producer Renaud Le Van Kim… “But it wasn’t me who told him about Fred,” confides the founder of the online media Brut.
Building the “Macron memorial”
His dear friend Pierre-Antoine Capton is the most enterprising. The boss of the audiovisual production group Mediawan (1 billion euros in turnover), producer of a documentary to the glory of the new president broadcast on TF1 the day after the victory, in 2017, is in court at the Elysium. Since he founded Mediawan with investment banker Matthieu Pigasse (individual shareholder of the Monde) and Xavier Niel, “the new prince of TV” (dixit Le Figaro) continues to diversify. Its imposing Art Deco building on Avenue de Breteuil, in the heart of 7e arrondissement of Paris, sees the whole of Paris parade on the sets of “C dans l’air” and “C à vous”.
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