Philippe fort: a strategist with top-notch communication skills

Philippe Fort is a managing director in the ESMOD (Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode) group. A skilled negotiator and man of taste, he is passionate about history of art and the ancient world. In this interview he tells us why ESMOD joined the FEDE.

What did you study?

I’m a graduate of the Institut d‘études politiques de Grenoble (1990). I also have a master’s and a DEA in political science from Paris II Assas University. In 2018 I completed a course at the Ecole nationale de la magistrature to become a labour court judge.

What have been the highlights of your career?

After working as policy officer at the Palais Galliera (fundraising negotiations, marketing of exhibitions) I was employed at the Paris City Hall. I was initially in charge of an economic development project; later I was advisor to a public office holder. I had a lot of contact with people working in design, fashion and the arts. I went on to become Vice-President of the Fédération Nationale de l’Enseignement Privé (FNEP).

What is your current job role?

My job can involve anything from establishing partnerships (Erasmus, Campus France etc.), managing relations with ministries (obtaining official recognition of degrees by the Ministry of Culture or of certificates by the French RNCP) and assessing human resources needs. In other words, my role is extremely varied.

Can you tell us more about ESMOD and why you decided to join the FEDE?

The Ecole Supérieure des Arts et Techniques de la Mode (ESMOD) was founded in 1841. It’s the oldest fashion school in the world. Today ESMOD offers courses in fashion, management and marketing at bachelor’s and master’s levels. Wishing to further develop our institution and expand our course catalogue, we decided to partner up with the FEDE Doctoral School to offer DBA (Doctor of Business Administration) degrees in fashion management. As we are also keen to expand into eco-creation and innovation, we thought it would be interesting to combine our talents with those of the FEDE’s Academic Council and Panel of Experts.