Michel Prada
Chairman, Autorité des Marchés Financiers (France)

Michel Prada was born in Bordeaux on April 2, 1940. He is married and has 5 children. He is a graduate of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques of Bordeaux and of the Ecole Nationale d'Administration (1964-1966). He also holds a Master of Arts in Law.

From 1966 to 1970, he was Inspecteur des Finances. Then he seconded to the Direction de la Comptabilité Publique in the Ministry of the Economy where he became, in 1978, Directeur de la Comptabilité Publique. In 1985, he was appointed Directeur du Budget in the Ministry of the Economy and in 1987 was awarded the title of Inspecteur Général des Finances. In 1988, he served as Chairman of the Crédit d'Equipement des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (CEPME). Between 1994 and 1995, he was Member of the Conseil Economique et Social and Member of the Conseil National du Crédit. He was appointed Chairman of the Commission des Opérations de Bourse (COB) in 1995. He was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commission (IOSCO) from September 1996 to September 1998 and Chairman of the Technical Committee from September 1998 to May 2000, and was reappointed Chairman of the Technical Committee in October 2005. From October 2002 to November 2003, he was Inspecteur Général des Finances. Since November 2003, he has been Chairman of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers.

He has been the Chairman of the Board of the Orchestre de Paris and of the Board of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Bordeaux.

He has been awarded the titles of Commander of the "Légion d'Honneur" and Great Officer of the "Ordre National du Mérite" and is also Chevalier of the "Ordre National des Arts et Lettres".