Léa Lassarat appointed Chairman of the Board of EM Normandie

Newly elected President of the EM Normandie Board of Directors, Léa Lassarat officially takes up her post at the start of the 2025 academic year. Already involved as Vice-Chairwoman of the Board for the past 10 years, Léa Lassarat brings her experience as a serial entrepreneur and visionary leader to contribute to the development and influence of EM Normandie.velopment and influence of EM Normandie alongside Anne-Sophie Courtier, the school's Managing Director since April 2025.

A woman in the field, committed to entrepreneurship and the local community

Born in Le Havre, Léa Lassarat, 54, is an emblematic figure in the economic fabric of Normandy. After running the family business Interior's until 2011, where she acquired solid experience in management and international trade, she moved into the hotel and restaurant business with the creation and management of several renowned establishments in Normandy and the Alps. In 2023, she will inaugurate La Grande Ecole in Le Havre, an innovative concept combining food hall, accommodation, training and leisure.

First woman to chair a Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Normandy

President of the Seine Estuaire Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2016 to 2021, she has succeeded in federating economic players around structuring projects for the region. She is also the founder of the Femmes & Challenges network supported by the CCI Normandie. Created in 2017 to develop female entrepreneurship and audacity, this network now brings together over 1,300 members. This regional initiative, the only one of its kind in France, has helped the Normandy region move from ^8th to ^1st place in terms of business start-ups by women in just 7 years.

National recognition

Léa Lassarat was named Chevalier de l'ordre national du Mérite in 2021. In 2022, she was singled out by the business newspaper La Tribune 's Women for Future as one of forty women who are shaking up the economy, and more recently by Forbes magazine as one of the 40 women of 2024.

A new stage for EM Normandie

Léa Lassarat succeeds Jean-Louis Grégoire, Chairman of the Board of EM Normandie since 2021. Her appointment marks an important milestone for EM Normandie, which has been headed by Anne-Sophie Courtier since last April. The school is entering the ^2nd phase of its 2020-2030 strategic orientations, with strong ambitions: to position EM Normandie as France's leading post-baccalaureate Grande Ecole by 2030, by prioritizing academic excellence, organizational performance and innovation to offer students an optimal experience and premium services.

" I've always loved entrepreneurship, bringing people together and supporting those who dare to take the plunge. After ten years at the head of the family business, I decided to reinvent myself by creating places to live - hotels, restaurants, cooking schools, event spaces - where people share the same high standards and conviviality. hotels, restaurants, cooking schools, event spaces - where demanding standards and conviviality are shared. Today, I take on the role of Chairman of the Board of EM Normandie with a strong conviction: success is built through action and teamwork. It is this energy that I want to put at the service of this Grande Ecole, to help it pursue its development and influence ", explains Léa Lassarat, Chairman of the Board of EM Normandie.

" I'm delighted to be joining forces with Léa Lassarat to preside over the destiny of EM Normandie and work towards its expansion. Sharing the same values and ambitions for the school, we are both committed to extending its reach in France and internationally, offering a range of excellent courses and transdisciplinary learning experiences.learning experiences for students and companies alike, and to work closely with our local communities", adds Anne-Sophie Courtier, Managing Director of EM Normandie.