Olivier Colom

Olivier Colom is a former French diplomat and diplomatic adviser to President Nicolas Sarkozy, with extensive experience of African affairs. At the French Foreign Office, he helped to reform France’s development aid programme before specialising in European Union affairs, notably economic, financial, budgetary and agricultural affairs. After serving as a diplomat in Oslo and London, where he was seconded to the office of UK Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2005-2006, he joined the French President’s staff at the Elysée Palace in 2007. In his role as diplomatic advisor and deputy “Sherpa” to President Nicolas Sarkozy, he was responsible for international economic matters, climate change negotiations, development aid and global governance reform, as well as preparations for international summits including the G20, G8, United Nations and French-speaking nations. From 2013 to 2016, he was a member of the Edmond de Rothschild Group’s Executive Committee, holding first the position of international adviser and then of Secretary General. Mr. Colom is chair of OC Advisory. He is a graduate of the National School of Administration and the Institute of Political Studies in Paris, and holds a degree in General Public Law (Sorbonne) and a master degree in International Law from Paris X University.