Early Life and Education

Patrick Jean Pouyanné was born on June 24, 1963, in Petit-Quevilly, Seine-Maritime, France. He spent part of his youth in Bayonne, where his father was the director of regional customs. Pouyanné pursued higher education at École Polytechnique, where he graduated with an engineering degree, ranking 11th in his class. He subsequently joined the French Corps des Mines as an engineer.

Career

Public Sector

Pouyanné began his professional career in 1989 at the Ministry of Industry. By 1993, he had become a technical advisor to Édouard Balladur, then French Prime Minister. He continued to hold influential positions, including technical advisor for environment and industry and later chief of staff to François Fillon, the Minister for Information Technology and Space, from 1995 to 1996.

Private Sector

In January 1997, Pouyanné transitioned to the private sector by joining Total (now TotalEnergies) as the General Secretary for its Angolan subsidiary. He was promoted to manage the exploration-production department in Qatar in 1999. Following Total’s acquisition of Elf in 2000, Pouyanné retained his role within the merged entity.

He was appointed Senior Vice President of Finance, Economics, and Information Systems for Exploration & Production in August 2002. By 2006, he had taken on the role of Senior Vice President of Strategy, Business Development, and R&D. He became a member of Total’s Management Committee in May 2006 and was named Deputy General Manager of Refining and Chemicals in March 2011. Pouyanné was promoted to President of Refining & Chemicals in January 2012 and joined the Executive Committee.

On October 22, 2014, following the tragic death of CEO Christophe de Margerie, Pouyanné was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Total. He was also named President of the Executive Committee. In December 2015, Pouyanné was elected Chairman of the Board of Directors, consolidating both roles of Chairman and CEO.

Leadership and Achievements

Under Pouyanné’s leadership, TotalEnergies has focused on transitioning to low-carbon technologies. He has spearheaded significant investments in renewable energy and established a dedicated branch within TotalEnergies to enhance renewable solutions and energy efficiency. Key initiatives include the conversion of the La Mede oil refinery into a bio-refinery and the expansion of TotalEnergies’ solar and renewable energy investments.

Pouyanné has been an active advocate for climate change mitigation. He played a pivotal role in creating the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance carbon capture technologies.

Current Roles and Honors

Aside from his role at TotalEnergies, Pouyanné is the Chairman of the French non-profit Entreprises pour l’Environnement (EpE) and the Alliance pour l’Éducation – United Way. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for Capgemini, École Polytechnique, and Institut du Monde Arabe. Pouyanné has been recognized with several honors, including being made a Knight of the Legion of Honor in 2015.

Personal Life

Patrick Pouyanné continues to lead TotalEnergies as it navigates the evolving energy landscape, focusing on sustainability and the integration of clean energy technologies. His career reflects a commitment to both public service and corporate leadership, underpinned by a strong background in engineering and administration.