Biography
Known for his tenure at two of Paris’ top universities, L’Institut Francais de la Mode (IFM) and Ecole Superieure de Commerce de Paris (ESCP) Europe, Pascal Morand is an accomplished author and academic expert on French fashion as it relates to the global economy and culture. Now the executive president of Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, Morand has injected new energy and modernity into the world’s most important capital for creativity and commerce in fashion. Morand was also previously deputy director general of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Paris region.
Morand attended HEC Business School in 1981, and continued his studies in Organisation Sciences at the University of Paris Dauphine. Additionally, Morand was briefly a visiting scholar at Northwestern University in 1981. In 1987, Morand took up a post as director general and associate lecturer at L’Institut Francais de la Mode, one of France’s leading fashion schools. He continues to be an associate lecturer today. He earned his PhD at the University of Rouen in 1988. In 2006, he left IFM for ESCP Europe, where he pursued both independent and collaborative research alongside his teaching responsibilities, lecturing in ESCP Europe’s Berlin and Paris campuses. In 2012, Morand stepped down from his role at the region’s leading business school.
He has also engaged in thorough research and analyses on globalisation, conducted for France’s Minister of Economy Christine Lagarde. Morand has penned several articles, academic publications and books exploring the intersection between economics and culture. He co-authored a significant report entitled “The New Vision of Innovation” with Delphine Manceau in 2009. His latest book — an exploration of luxury and religion — is entitled “Les Religions et le Luxe,” and was published in 2012.
Between 2002 and 2006, Morand was increasingly active in the public sector, implementing a new strategy for the Moroccan textile industry and playing an advisory role at governmental and national level on matters pertaining to fashion in an economic context. Morand is also a member of the French Academy of Technology.
Today, he continues to be an associate lecturer at IFM and participates in their larger, high-profile events, such as the Festival d’Hyeres in 2014, when he chaired a roundtable discussion on “China: perspectives for change and crossover development.”
In December 2015, it was announced that Morand would be taking over from Stephane Wargnier as the new executive president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, France’s leading fashion governing body. Many deem Morand's affinity with technology and his educational background as crucial assets in his role.