Laurent Attali succeeds Thibaut de Martimprey as director of the Louis Braille Campus

The Louis Braille Campus is turning an important page in its history. Laurent Attali is succeeding Thibaut de Martimprey, who conceived and launched the campus two years ago and served as its director until the end of last September. This transition marks the shift from a launch phase to a phase of consolidation and heightened ambition.

A challenging and empowering journey

A graduate of Sciences Po Paris, with a DESS in Banking and Finance from Paris-Sorbonne University and a bachelor’s degree in law from the University of Paris, Laurent Attali has built an exceptionally rich career. With 37 years of experience in finance, he brings to the Louis Braille Campus cutting-edge expertise and a proven ability to manage complex projects and data.

His career path took him to London, where he worked in capital markets; upon his return to Paris, he spent seven years at the Caisse des Dépôts in the financial markets division. He then spent 26 years at BNP Paribas, including 18 years in investment banking, capital markets, and corporate banking, followed by 8 years in compliance and market integrity. His primary role involved financing governments, public institutions, and large corporations in the international bond markets, including managing bond issuances.

A shared vision for an ambitious second phase

Why did you decide to join the Louis Braille Campus? “The desire to spend the final phase of my professional career in the service of a collective cause and to broaden my horizons after a long career in finance, ” explains Laurent Attali.

It was the cause of visual impairment, the mission of the Louis Braille Campus, the wide range of responsibilities entrusted to the director, and the appeal of working closely with the founding members that convinced him to take on this challenge as part of a skills-based pro bono initiative.

He plans to draw on a range of cross-functional skills and complementary expertise for this mission: his extensive experience managing operational teams, his interpersonal and business skills —which are valuable for seeking out partners and sponsors—his expertise in advocacy and education regarding innovative solutions, as well as his extensive international experience.

His vision for the Louis Braille Campus is clear: after an initial phase devoted to creating, organizing, and launching numerous initiatives and activities, the time has come for consolidation and development. Current achievements must be continued and strengthened, while developing partnerships and seeking sustainable funding.

Alongside innovation and startup incubation—which will continue to grow through user testing and events such as the Demo Day, Laurent Attali plans to expand initiatives related to research and training, the campus’s two other core pillars.

Collaboration with the founding organizations (the National Institute for Young Blind People, Voir Ensemble, apiDV, and the Valentin Haüy Association) should enable the Louis Braille Campus to significantly expand its activities and play a major, driving operational role, particularly in connection with the announcements made at the National Disability Convention last September, including the announcement regarding the transformation of the National Institute for Young Blind People into the National Louis Braille Institute.