Since 2012, Olivier provides, on an independent basis, board advisory, consulting & investment services in the Middle East (United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman & Egypt) to operators, technology and services companies in the Space, Infrastructure & Utilities domains. From September 2015 to October 2021, Olivier Badard was the CEO of RATP for Asia-Pacific, the Middle East & North Africa, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Under his leadership RATP were awarded more than 6 billion Euros worth of new long-term services contracts, with headcount growing from 3,000 to 10,000 people in the region. He was previously President, Middle East & Western Asia for THALES (December 2008 to August 2012), leading the group’s global interests in sixteen countries of the region, based in Dubai, UAE. Under his leadership, THALES grew its revenues in all sectors of activity across the region to reach more than 2Bn Euros annually. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice-President for Thales Alenia Space from September 2006 to December 2008, managing all satellite communications-related development activities of the company on a global basis, based in Cannes, France. Previously, he oversaw ground network solutions in the Americas for Alcatel. Mr. Badard held several managerial positions with the Telecommunications Cable Division of Alcatel (now Nexans) in the United States and in Europe. Olivier Badard, 56, holds an MBA in International Business from the University of San Francisco, California. He was made a Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite (Knight of the National Order of Merit) in 2012.