Pierre-René Lemas


Pierre-René Lemas is a French civil servant. He served as the Chief of Staff of the French President, François Hollande from 2012 to 2014. He has served as the Chairman of the Caisse des dépôts et consignations since 2014.

Early life

Pierre-René Lemas was born on February 23, 1951 in Algiers, French Algeria. His parents were Pied-Noirs. His father was a lawyer. His uncle was a journalist for France Inter.
Lemas graduated from Sciences Po and the École nationale d'administration. At the ENA, his coursemates included François Hollande, but also Ségolène Royal, Dominique de Villepin, Michel Sapin, Jean-Pierre Jouyet and Henri de Castries.

Career

Lemas started his career in the cabinet of the Minister of the Interior, Gaston Defferre, in 1981. In 1985, he worked in the cabinet of Pierre Joxe, focusing on decentralisation. He then served as the Cabinet Secretary to Jean-Michel Boucheron and later Jean-Michel Baylet. In 1988, he worked in Pierre Foxe's cabinet again, and later served as under-secretary to the Délégation interministérielle à l'aménagement du territoire et à l'attractivité régionale.
Lemas served as the Prefect of Corsica from 2003 to 2006. During that time, shots were fired at his office to intimidate him.
Lemas served as the Cabinet Secretary to Senator Jean-Pierre Bel in 2011. He served as the Chief of Staff under President François Hollande from 2012 to 2014. He was replaced by in 2014.
Since 2014, he has served as the Chairman of the Caisse des dépôts et consignations.