President Xavier Romatet of Condé Nast France hit the audience hard when he outlined the future he foresees for print journalism, quality photography and intelligent uses of the Web for connecting with readers. Vogue France has the highest number of Followers of all French press brands: 1,295,000 on Twitter, and 1,817,706 Facebook Fans as of November 14. According to Romatet, Condé Nast’s most well-known titles have the leverage and the authority to continue investing in quality editorial, including work by the world’s best photographers. For him, information has no value unless the press is able to take it and create a perspective. He concluded by assuring listeners there is no need to fear the future as long as we can adapt: “If change is hard, not changing is fatal.”
After studying at the Political Science Institute of Paris and receiving an MBA at HEC, Romatet began his career as Counsel Director at Phone Marketing, then as Editor at Stratégies magazine.
In 1987, he co-launched Directing, a counsel and direct marketing agency. In 1993, he became president of Rapp Collins, and in 1999, president of interactive activity at DDB Group, which became Tribal DDB Paris, then Rapp Digital. Romatet later became general director, then co-president, at DDB Communications France. Since March 2006, he's served as President/General Director of Condé Nast France, which publishes Vogue, Glamour, GQ, Vanity Fair et AD. He also serves as administrator of the OJD, and administrator of the Periodical Press Cooperative of the Parisian Press's New Messages (NMPP).