The president of Condé-Nast spoke strongly and warmly of paper journalism, quality photography and using the web to forge links with readers. According to Xavier Romatet, Vogue France is among the brands with the most followers (1,295,000 on Twitter; 1,817,706 on Facebook, as of November 14).
Romanet insists on investing in quality. Vogue must invest in its photographers to maintain a certain level of quality. Information has no value in itself, but the press adds value by putting that information in perspective. Photographers need not fear the future, he believes, if they know how to adapt: “Change is difficult, but not changing is fatal,” he concluded.
After studying at the Political Science Institute of Paris and receiving an MBA at HEC, Xavier Romatet began his career as Counsel Director at Phone Marketing, then as Editor at Stratégies magazine. In 1987, he co-launched Directing, a counsel and direct marketing agency. In 1993, he became president of Rapp Collins, and in 1999, president of interactive activity at DDB Group, which became Tribal DDB Paris, then Rapp Digital. Romatet later became general director, then co-president, at DDB Communications France. Since March 2006, he’s served as President/General Director of Condé Nast France, which publishes Vogue, Glamour, GQ, Vanity Fair et AD. He also serves as administrator of the OJD, and administrator of the Periodical Press Cooperative of the Parisian Press’s New Messages (NMPP).
