His master's voice

By Tom Judd - 03.07.2008 / 00:00 CET

As speechwriter to the president of France, Henri Guaino has used his lyrical power to increase his backstage influence. But can he last?

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Curriculum Vitae

1957: Born, Arles
1982-86: Economist, Crédit Lyonnais
1987-88: Economist, finance ministry
1988: Speechwriter on Jacques Chirac's presidential campaign
1989-90: Researcher for Louis Dreyfus Group
1990-93: Adviser to Mutuelle d'Assurance des Artisans de France
1993-94: Aide to Philippe Séguin, president of the National Assembly
1994-95: Adviser to Interior Minister Charles Pasqua
1995-98: Commissaire Général au Plan
1999-2000: Aide to Pasqua as governor of Hauts-de-Seine
2002-04: Adviser to l'Agence pour la Diffusion de l'Information Technologique
2004-06: Auditor at the Cour des Comptes
2006-07: Speechwriter for UMP leader Nicolas Sarkozy
2007: Special adviser to President Sarkozy

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