Richard Attias

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Richard Attias – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Richard Attias – biography, career, and key quotes; Moroccan businessman and events pioneer, founder of Richard Attias & Associates, The New York Forum, and global platform builder.

Introduction

Richard Attias (born November 19, 1959) is a Moroccan-born global events impresario, strategist, and consultant who has shaped the world of international summits, nation branding, and strategic communications. Over decades, he has built landmark platforms—like the Davos Forum, the New York Forum, and the Future Investment Initiative—and advised governments, corporations, and global institutions on influence, development, and brand. His trajectory from engineering into global diplomacy and event architecture makes him a noteworthy figure in the intersection of business, politics, and culture.

Early Life and Family

Richard Attias was born on 19 November 1959 in Fès (Fez), Morocco, into a Jewish Moroccan family.

Although details about his parents are less publicly documented, the combination of his Moroccan heritage and later life in Europe and the U.S. reflect a life bridging multiple cultures.

Youth and Education

Attias moved to France as a teenager to pursue his studies. Institut National des Sciences Appliquées de Toulouse (INSA Toulouse), where he earned a degree in civil engineering. master’s degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Paris.

His technical and scientific training likely provided him with analytical rigor, which later complemented his capacity to design large-scale platforms, manage logistics, and structure complex strategic programs.

Career and Achievements

Richard Attias’s career spans multiple phases: from technology and event management, to large-scale global platforms, to strategic communications, consulting, and institutional leadership.

From IBM and Technology to Events

Attias began his professional journey at IBM France, where he worked in sales and technology roles. Econocom, operating in France and Japan, a firm specializing in computer leasing and IT services.

During the early 1990s, he pivoted toward the event and communications industry. He founded an event management company, securing high-profile clients (governments and global institutions) and building expertise in producing large forums, diplomatic summits, and corporate conventions.

Building Global Platforms & the Davos Era

From around 1995 to 2008, Attias served as Executive Producer of the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meetings in Davos, overseeing some of the most prestigious global gatherings of political and business leadership.

He also co-founded or played a key role in forums such as the Nobel Laureates Conference and the Clinton Global Initiative.

In 1998, Attias sold part of his event business to Publicis, integrating it into what became PublicisLive, a specialized events arm. Publicis Events Worldwide.

Founding Richard Attias & Associates and Strategic Communication

In 2008, Attias launched Richard Attias & Associates (RA&A), a strategic communications, nation branding, and event platform firm.

RA&A’s portfolio includes a broad array of global platforms:

• The New York Forum (founded 2010)

• The New York Forum Africa (from 2012)

• Doha GOALS Forum (launched 2012) — a sports & society forum using sport as development tool.

• Major summits and events including APEC CEO Summit, Egypt Economic Development Conference, One Planet Summit, Future Investment Initiative (FII), etc.

RA&A has also partnered with WPP, which in 2013 acquired a 30 % stake in RA&A, though that stake was later sold back.

Institutional Leadership: FII Institute & Advisory Roles

Richard Attias currently holds a prominent role in the FII Institute (Future Investment Initiative Institute) as Chairman of the Executive Committee and Acting CEO.

In addition, Attias has advised governments, especially in the Middle East and Africa, on nation branding, event strategy, tourism, and foreign direct investment campaigns.

Controversies & Criticism

• Panama Papers & Offshore Holdings: In 2016, Attias was named in the Panama Papers revelations. His holdings in The Experience by Richard Attias Ltd (registered via offshore jurisdictions) were disclosed. He defended the practice as legal and pragmatic for international business operations.

• Economic Impact Critiques: Some critics question whether events like New York Forum Africa deliver genuine investment returns relative to their cost. For example, Gabonese critics pointed to high operating budgets and limited measurable investment flows.

Historical Milestones & Context

• His rise coincided with the globalization of summit culture in the 1990s and 2000s, when large forums and gatherings became major instruments of diplomacy, soft power, and international branding.

• By producing Davos and similar summits, Attias was at the heart of the shift toward multi-stakeholder global governance architectures.

• His role in bridging public and private sectors—especially in emerging markets—reflects the increasing importance of event diplomacy and nation branding in a networked world.

• As the geoeconomic center of gravity increasingly shifts toward Africa and Asia, his positioning of forums like FII and New York Forum Africa taps into new dynamics of influence and investment.

Legacy and Influence

Richard Attias’s legacy lies in his creation and orchestration of global platforms that convene power, ideas, and capital. He is often seen as a connector of worlds—linking heads of state, CEOs, scientists, civil society, and media.

• He has shaped how governments and cities conceive their brand and global image, especially in emerging economies.

• His platform-building model underscores the trend of summits and forums as strategic infrastructure—spaces where diplomacy, commerce, and narrative intersect.

• He has influenced an entire industry of event design, strategic communications, and brand diplomacy.

• Through FII Institute and RA&A, his ongoing work is likely to influence how investment, sustainability, and innovation agendas evolve globally.

Personality, Skills & Approaches

Richard Attias is often described as visionary, high-energy, pragmatic, and audacious. He leads with ambition and is known for high expectations of both teams and stakeholders.

His ability to synthesize big ideas, manage complex logistics, and navigate cross-cultural and geopolitical terrains is a signature strength.

He often frames his work as “building bridges”—not physical, but conceptual and relational bridges across sectors, geographies, and ideologies.

Attias operates at the intersection of diplomacy, business, art, and influence—a rare blend in the world of global leadership consulting.

Famous Quotes of Richard Attias

While public sources list fewer widely circulated quotes than for more literary figures, several attributed statements highlight his philosophy of events, sport, and nation branding:

• “Sport allows us to engage in dialogue and to build bridges, and it may even have the capacity to reshape international relations.”

• “Even an unsuccessful Olympic bid can be the source of change within a city if organizers adhere to their vision.”

• “Sport is a great equalizer that can build bridges, transcend borders and cultures, and render even the fiercest conflicts temporarily irrelevant.”

Additionally, in interviews he often emphasizes values like audacity, courage, and believing that “impossible” isn’t in his vocabulary.

Lessons from Richard Attias

From Richard Attias’s trajectory, several lessons emerge:

1. Vision + Execution
   It’s not enough to conceive big ideas—success demands the systems, teams, and logistics to execute at scale.

2. Bridging Sectors & Geographies
   Impact is amplified when you connect actors from disparate sectors—governments, private, civil society—and from different countries.

3. Brand as Infrastructure
   Nations, cities, and institutions must treat their image and narrative as strategic infrastructure, not just marketing.

4. Boldness in the Face of Complexity
   Attias shows that bold, high-consequence projects are possible—even in environments of volatility—if you plan meticulously and maintain conviction.

5. Adaptability & Reinvention
   Transitioning from engineering to tech to events to strategic consulting teaches that careers can evolve if one remains open to new roles and contexts.

Conclusion

Richard Attias is more than an event producer or consultant—he is a curator of global conversation and influence. From his Moroccan origins to shaping forums where presidents, CEOs, and public intellectuals meet, he has carved out a distinct niche at the intersection of diplomacy, business, and public narrative. His legacy lies not only in the grand summits he builds but in the connective tissue he weaves across sectors and borders.