Eight years in the shadow of power, for a sensational arrival in the upper echelons of banking: Alexis Kohler, former secretary general of the Élysée and loyal toEmmanuel Macron, was appointed Deputy CEO of Société Générale this Friday, where he will lead the group's investment bank. He will join the bank's executive committee in June.
The appointment, made official this morning by Société Générale, marks a long-awaited turning point in the career of this senior civil servant, a graduate of the École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) and close to the president since his days as Minister of the Economy. He will coordinate mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, and acquisition financing activities, while supporting the bank in its transformation and asset disposal programs. He will also oversee human resources, communications, and the group's general secretariat.
A strategic but controversial choice
This recruitment comes as Alexis Kohler remains under investigation for illegal taking of interests in a case related to the shipping company MSC, owned by close relatives. His move to finance therefore raises questions in a sector seeking transparency and regulation. Officially, the bank is delighted with his appointment, hailing his "exceptional commitment" and "extensive experience."
This trajectory is reminiscent of that of other senior officials who have moved from the top of the state to large corporations. But in the current context, it risks fueling criticism of the connections between the state apparatus and the business community. Will this new role allow Alexis Kohler to forget his legal troubles... or revive them?
