WASHINGTON, DC – The Atlantic Council today named Benjamin Haddad, a leading French analyst and author, as the new director of its Future Europe Initiative (FEI).

He will lead the Initiative at a pivotal time for the future of Europe, for its place in the world, and for the transatlantic relationship. Two of Haddad’s immediate priorities will be tracking political change in the European Union in 2019 and promoting greater understanding between West and East European partners.

Haddad comes to the Atlantic Council with deep and diverse expertise and experience on European politics and transatlantic relations. Before assuming his new role as FEI director at the Atlantic Council, he was a fellow at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC. In his work, he has advocated for transatlantic unity in the face of Russian aggression as well as greater European responsibility and investment in strategic matters.

His forthcoming book, “Paradise Lost: Europe in the world of Trump,” makes the case for greater European unity to confront new challenges. In 2017, during the last French presidential election, he served as the Washington DC representative of Emmanuel Macron’s movement En Marche.

He is a prolific writer and appears frequently in major media, including Foreign Affairs, The American Interest, Foreign Policy, the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, CNN, Fox News, NPR, BBC, France 24, Le Figaro, and Le Monde.

“Benjamin brings to the Atlantic Council a wealth of experience in European politics and a vision for a vibrant transatlantic partnership, in which Europe assumes greater strategic responsibilities,” said Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe. “Benjamin’s appointment doubles down on the Atlantic Council’s core missions of promoting constructive US leadership in close cooperation with our European allies and building as Europe whole, free, and at peace.”

“In Benjamin, the Council has found someone with the skills, wisdom, and experience to lead our work on Europe at a time when the region faces unprecedented internal and external pressures and challenges,” said Damon Wilson, Atlantic Council Executive Vice President. “He is in a unique position to expand the Council’s network and footprint from Paris to Brussels, Berlin, and beyond.”

“I am excited to serve as the new director for the Future Europe Initiative and to be joining the dynamic team at the Atlantic Council committed to US-European cooperation and partnership,” said Haddad. “This is an incredible opportunity to promote rising leaders from both sides of the Atlantic and shape a common response to the challenges we face in a time of great power competition and the rise of authoritarians.”

Haddad also brings economic expertise to the table, with a masters in Financial Economics from HEC School of Management in Paris and a B.A. from Sciences Po Paris.

For more information about the Future Europe Initiative or to schedule interviews with any of its experts, please contact us at press@AtlanticCouncil.org.