I didn't have the complexion of the researcher

He recognizes himself: "I am spoiled." Modest, full of future Laurent Bigorgne, thirty-six years, clears constantly behind his two successive patterns, both, it is true, men in scope. Once again, it was the right arm of Richard Descoings at the head of Sciences po Paris, he was the Director of studies and education five years. Today, Claude Bébéar, historical pattern of AXA and founder of the Montaigne Institute, he entrusts the commands of his influential think tank, only one year after had recruited it as Director of studies. "De la chance", he replies when asked how such a path. A few, no doubt, but not only...

Its extremely chastened French, its historical culture, his work bulimia, his addiction to the press, all of this soon enough perspire in character. Less obvious to guess at first, but just as crucial to understand his route is its socio-cultural environment of origin: father principal of school in Meurthe-et-Moselle, a parent teacher in the same establishment - which he also served as House - and a direct contact, from the age tender, with dramas of globalization. "I attended, child, the dynamiting of the last blast", tells the native of Pompey, city where he was able to bind with Jacques Chérèque. Thus is best understood his activism to the Unef-ID when he was a student at Sciences po - he was elected to the Board of directors when Richard Descoings became Director. Even his passion for history, discipline that he studied at the Sorbonne, to unhook the aggregation in 1999, sheds a new light: his grandfather, old Ardennes, he was learning by heart the speeches of Marechal Foch. He was also preparing to start a thesis on a member of the IIIeRépublique when the Director of Sciences po, with whom he remained in contact, the averted this way... "For the largest property in the history and mine." I didn't have the complexion of the researcher.

Richard Descoings support young rat of library of twenty-five years to create an undergraduate in Nancy - a worthy of a "start-upper" mission - and then, very quickly, does come to Paris, at his side, to help in its redesign in depth of the IEP. Laurent Bigorgne will end at the head of a direction of 200 people. "I hope that you will find your Richard", launch to his young collaborators his pot of departure day.

"Hussar" become head researcher

Because, in 2008, he flies with wife and children to London and the London School of Economics, where he will focus inter alia to strengthen the links between this institution at Sciences po and to carry out an audit of the international policy of the twenty best British universities.

Return to France the following year, Laurent Bigorgne prefer Claude Bébéar proposal stick of Marshal offered to him by Richard Descoings. It is true that the issues of the Montaigne Institute overlap in many respects its own centres of interest, starting with the analysis and reform of the French educational system, in particular its primary school, theme of the recent report he has led and sold to opinion leaders and decision makers. Tribute to a son of "Hussar" became a head of the powerful in this institution who saw him be born and grow.