Marie-Monique Steckel joins the Board of Directors

Marie-Monique Steckel is a respected executive and cultural leader with a career spanning politics, telecommunications and non-profit management. She served as President of the French Institute Alliance Française (FIAF, now L’Alliance New York), from 2004 to 2022 where she transformed the institution into a destination for French culture, language and contemporary arts.

A graduate of Sciences Po Paris, Steckel has held numerous and influential roles.

In 1979, she founded and led France Telecom North America, an observation platform for telecommunications innovation in the United States, which also promoted France as a special hub for multinational corporations. She left France Telecom in 1999 to become the Chief of Staff for Ronald S. Lauder’s investments in Eastern Europe.

Earlier in her career, in 1976 she was the National Director of Communications for Jacques Chirac’s newly created political party.

She currently is advisor to the renovation of the La Pagode, an iconic cinema in Paris.

Steckel’s significant contributions have earned her numerous honors from the French Government, including Officier de la Legion d’Honneur, Offcier de l’Ordre du Mérite and Officier des Arts et Lettres.