The Hague, 7^th October 2021 – Former Chief of the French Air Force, General (ret.) Stéphane Abrial becomes Associate Partner at Hague Corporate Affairs (Hague), an international public affairs and corporate communications company based in The Hague, Amsterdam, Brussels, and Paris. From Hague’s French office, he will provide clients with strategic advice on political and technical developments in the fields of defence and security, industrial policy and innovation, at both national and international levels.

After an exemplary career in the military, General Abrial knows the world of defence inside out. This seasoned fighter pilot was a commander of several military operations – such as Operations Desert Storm for the liberation of Kuwait, during the Gulf Wars.

General Abrial subsequently held many eminently strategic roles at the highest levels of French and international politics. He was appointed to the private offices of the President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac, in 2000 and his then Prime Minister, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, in 2002, before his nomination as Chief of Staff of the French Air Force (2006-2009). General Abrial’s career and reputation extends well beyond borders. He became the first European to be appointed head of a NATO strategic command, as Supreme Allied Commander Transformation in 2009.

After retiring from the military, General Abrial remained faithful to his passion, taking on the roles of senior executive VP International and Public Affairs at Safran – a renowned French multinational company in aviation, defence, and space – until 2019, and Chairman of the Board of the French Air and Space Museum. Besides his involvement with Hague, he remains member of the Advisory Boards of French asset manager Tikehau Capital and electro-optic solutions manufacturer Photonis. He is also member of the Supervisory Board of Sabena Technics, the leader of aeronautic maintenance services.

Commenting on his new responsibilities, Gen. Stéphane Abrial said: “Working at the interface between strategy, politics and operations is an activity I have been practicing for years, both in institutions and in industry, with a strong emphasis on international environments. I am pleased to share this experience within a truly European group like Hague, in support of institutions and companies in France, The Netherlands and elsewhere.”

Peter ter Horst, Managing Partner at Hague Corporate Affairs added: “We are honoured to welcome General Abrial on board. His expertise on the field and in high-level military strategy is of great added value, especially at a time where growing geopolitical instability has rekindled interest in defence policy, both at national and international levels. Taking a seat at that table means understanding the reality of security operations, grasping the sensitivity of national interests at stake, and knowing who to talk to. General Abrial is the perfect adviser for our clients, and we are pleased for him to come strengthening our Paris office”.

For more information, please contact Peter ter Horst, terhorst@hague.company.