Etienne Thobois

Etienne Thobois is a senior leader in the global sports industry with more than 30 years of experience in major international sporting events. A former French badminton champion and Olympian at the Atlanta 1996 Games, he began his career in strategic consulting before leading some of the world’s largest sporting events. After founding a successful sports consultancy, he advised and contributed to winning bids for events including Tokyo 2020, UEFA EURO 2016 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019. As CEO of Paris 2024 from 2015 to 2025, he led the successful Olympic and Paralympic bid and oversaw the delivery of what is widely regarded as one of the most impactful and best-organized Games in history. Now Deputy President of the Badminton World Federation, he advises major sports organizations and shares his expertise through consulting and keynote speeches on leadership, project management, sustainability, legacy and stakeholder engagement.