LAURENT BENATAR

About LAURENT BENATAR

Laurent Benatar is a senior executive at Groupe BPCE, where he serves as Chief Technology & Operations Officer. A graduate of École Polytechnique and Télécom ParisTech, he spent most of his career at Orange, moving between operational leadership roles and strategic functional responsibilities in customer service, networks, and information systems. This background gave him deep expertise in critical infrastructure, digital transformation, and the management of large-scale technology programs. At Orange, Benatar played a central role in several major milestones. From 1999 to 2001, he led the project to launch ADSL internet offerings in the Île-de-France region, contributing to the early rollout of broadband in France. In 2010, he became head of Orange France’s information systems, and in 2013 he broadened his remit to oversee all technical activities in France, including networks, services, and IT systems. In that role, he supported the company’s customer-centric strategy and helped drive the expansion of fixed and mobile networks, major cloud and data center initiatives, and flagship products such as Open, Fiber, and Sosh. He joined BPCE in October 2018 as Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Information Systems and Operational Excellence. He later assumed his current role as Chief Technology & Operations Officer. Within France’s second-largest banking group, Benatar has been instrumental in modernizing and simplifying the technology stack, strengthening operational efficiency, and coordinating the group’s IT capabilities across businesses and entities. His responsibilities also extend to major transformation initiatives, including the development of internal generative AI capabilities and the technological foundations supporting strategic projects across the group. Benatar’s career profile combines engineering rigor, large-enterprise transformation experience, and a strong ability to connect technology decisions with business strategy. His track record in telecoms and banking makes him a key executive for BPCE’s digital, operational, and technology agenda.