Guillaume Cravero

Guillaume is the Head of Sustainability and Public Affairs Managing Director at Ardian, a leading global private investment firm

I joined my current company, Ardian (a world leading private investment firm with $177 billion of assets advised or managed), in 2022 as Head of Public Affairs and Managing Director, where I led Ardian’s efforts in creating and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders and establishing government relations. After working closely with the Sustainability team, I was appointed Head of Sustainability and Public Affairs, Managing Director, where I now oversee the design and implementation of Ardian's ESG strategy across all investment operations and activities worldwide.

I am a multifaceted professional with expertise in global and European affairs, public policy, sustainability, and management. Throughout my career, I have built my experience and my technical expertise in international trade, market access and country intelligence, in the United States and at the French Trade Agency, as well as public policy with a strong focus on European affairs in Brussels.

For close to eight years, I played a key role in negotiating positions on major social and economic issues, working closely with European institutions and social partners. I was recruited by the French Minister of Labour to defend and strengthen social Europe, contributing to legislative negotiations ahead of the European elections as Diplomatic Advisor. I also served as a Strategic Advisor to the One Planet Sovereign Wealth Funds initiative for two years, a global coalition of sovereign wealth funds, asset managers, and private investment firms managing over $37 trillion in assets and committed to accelerating the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

My commitment to evidence-based policy led me to pursue the Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) at the LSE. This programme provided me with a rigorous foundation in policy analysis, governance, and economics, helping me refine my ability to assess and design impactful public policies as part of my policy-oriented roles. I gained proficiency in statistical modeling, impact evaluation, and strategic decision-making, reinforcing my analytical capabilities in a policymaking context.

During my time on the EMPA, I particularly liked the interdisciplinary nature of the programme, which, combined with a cohort of impressive global professionals from all around the world, deepened my understanding of regulatory frameworks and economic development strategies. This was intense and what I liked the most was the deep dive into research papers while preparing for our assignments and essays. That was so empowering and intellectually elevating.

Nowadays, I still use the LSE evidence-based approach because Ardian is a data-driven company that uses evidence to create value and sustainability. The EMPA could not have been more appropriate, and I wish there were more links between the academic and professional worlds, especially in private equity.

In addition to my institutional career, I co-authored a book on creativity in organizations, Creative Attitude (Dunod). This work explores how artistic expression can restore meaning to work and foster innovation within companies. I have also co-authored a policy article on the geopolitical dimension of sustainable finance, focusing on economic competitiveness.

I highly recommend the programme to business professionals, including from the investment sector, because of the increasing role and interconnection between public policy and business agendas, as companies must better analyze and understand their working environment. For those in administration, I believe that evidence-based policy has become a central part of their undertakings, and it will only increase in the future.

Guillaume is happy to connect via LinkedIn