Laurent Vibert

Laurent Vibert, a former officer in operational unit, associate communications director and spokesman for the Paris fire service from 1982 until 2007, has advised the highest national authorities, elected representatives and business leaders during major events and crises including the Nanterre massacre, the collapse of the Roissy Charles de Gaulle terminal and the riots and deadly fires around Paris.

Alongside his work managing information in critical situations, his roles in command of the Communication and PR department included: preparing internal-external communication plans, strategy, fundraising and managing a team of 50 people in a company with 8,500 employees. He has also worked as the head of the media department, editor-in-chief and media relations manager. An expert in interviewing techniques, especially in crisis situations, he fully understands the expectations of the media and the importance of putting together vital messages quickly as well as how to put them across.

With a university career and a Master II degree specialising in “communication in businesses and institutions” under his belt, he has written a dissertation on communication in crisis situations: “Relationships with the media in crisis situations: Threat or opportunity?”. He has also trained as a journalist at CFPJ (university of journalism in Paris) and has been the associate director for a communications agency geared towards corporate clients and institutions.

The natural progression of this unique career was the creation of a consultancy agency, Comcrise ®, in 2008, offering a personalised service to decision-makers, focusing on one key philosophy: putting people at the heart of information, giving communication consultancy a whole new approach in a rapidly evolving society, in a world which struggles to express itself.

He teaches postgraduates at the ISEG (European Management Institute), Institut Supérieur Européen de Gestion), the Catholic Institute of Paris (Master in Political and Government careers) and the Polytechnique Marseille (Master in Territorial Risk Management). As well as this, he runs conferences and training sessions for a large number of companies and organisations and is also a partner in a number of highly regarded communication agencies.

Laurent VIBERT is a chevalier de l’ordre national du Mérite (knight of the national order of merit), has been awarded the médaille d’Argent de la Ville de Paris (silver medal of the city of Paris), and has been honoured for his acts of Courage and Devotion. He has also been awarded many other honours by the highest authorities.