Credits: Catherine Euvrard.
Catherine Euvrard, without question the queen of headhunters in France, welcomes us to her elegant office a stone’s throw from the Arc de Triomphe. Founder and President of her own firm, she embodies a rare elegance on her vertiginous heels, that of a mother and grandmother both modern and timeless, blending vitality with sparkling humor. Her lair, rich in books and works of art, overflows with stories and wisdom; and she herself is about to write a new chapter with the imminent release of her sixth book.
But it’s a plastic creature, her mischievous “Béni Oui-Oui,” that immediately grabs attention. “You’re really hopeless, you know,” she teases her resin sidekick, who replies unfazed in an American accent: “Whatever you think, it’s correct.” A small scene that wonderfully relaxes the atmosphere for her clients, those CAC 40 CEOs who, between strategic meetings, find here a precious moment of lightness. So, if you’re aiming for the job of your dreams, follow the guide: here, efficiency always goes hand in hand with self-mockery.
Interview
Pierre-Antoine Tsady: You worked in several different environments, whether at Kodak, Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal or at the magazine Actuel created by Jean-François Bizot. What struck you most in these experiences?
Catherine Euvrard: Each company gave me a unique experience. At Kodak, I learned sales; Procter & Gamble taught me discipline and rigor in product launches and marketing. But it was at L’Oréal that I truly understood what the “school of life” was. My time at Actuel was marked by incredible creative freedom, especially with Jean-François Bizot, who had a very avant-garde vision. We lived completely crazy moments, like that nighttime expedition into the worst parts of Pigalle to impress our advertisers (laughs).
P.-A. T.: What memories do you keep from your years at Actuel?
C. E.: Actuel was a period of great inventiveness. It was a free environment where anything was possible. The team was bold and didn’t hesitate to shake up conventions. For example, I remember landing an interview with Arletty when everyone told me she was unreachable or pulling off impostures… Those crazy moments will stay engraved in my memory.
P.-A. T.: You started modestly in London, in the heyday. Tell us about it.
C. E.: London in the ’60s was absolute freedom. I worked at a legendary nightclub, Les Enfants Terribles; and I ran the cloakroom in the afternoons. I was young… It was a fascinating era marked by the rise of music, fashion and the arts. I met incredible characters there, from Spanish dignitaries to young British talents and the “teddy boys.” There was also another legendary club called La Poubelle. These places were melting pots of creativity and unlikely encounters. [Les Enfants Terribles and La Poubelle were iconic nightclubs of the 1950s and 60s in London, now defunct, ed.]
P.-A. T.: You experienced the Palace years. What memories do you keep and which personalities impressed you most?
C. E.: The Palace was much more than a nightclub; it was a true theater of the night, a mythical venue where the extraordinary rubbed shoulders with the everyday. I particularly remember Fabrice Emaer, the visionary behind this nocturnal temple. I went there constantly; it was the place to be, the meeting point for free spirits, creatives and the bold. Among the many figures who marked that place, I remember Grace Jones and Amanda Lear, who helped shape the Palace’s legend from its opening. Grace Jones, with her sculptural legs, made an unforgettable entrance descending from the sky on a trapeze, a breathtaking appearance that alone sums up the venue’s spectacular spirit. Amanda Lear, with her magnetic charisma and sense of eccentricity, left an equally indelible mark on those raucous nights.
Under the dim lights, the sumptuous décor mixed velvet, gilding and glittering mirrors, creating an atmosphere both chic and wild. Dancers, dressed in bold and extravagant outfits, moved to an intoxicating mix of disco, funk and house. It was the place where designers, artists and fashion icons crossed paths, each adding their singular touch to a night steeped in glamour, freedom and extravagance, where anything became possible—even the unpredictable.
There was also Karl Lagerfeld, always elegant, with a keen eye on everything happening around him. It was an era where art, fashion and music blended fluidly, and the Palace was the epicenter.
P.-A. T.: You who love jazz, who are for you the greatest jazzmen of all time?
C. E.: Jazz transcends mere music; it’s a profound form that touches the soul. Among its greatest masters: Errol Garner, Kenny Clark, the Blue Note [jazz club, ed.], Maxime Saury (La Huchette), Les 3 Maillets… But also, Miles Davis and John Coltrane, who dominate. Miles Davis, with his innovative genius, constantly pushed the genre’s boundaries, reinventing jazz in every era, notably with the legendary album Kind of Blue, which became an essential reference. Coltrane, for his part, brought intense spirituality to his playing, reaching emotional and technical peaks.
I also recall wild evenings with Stéphane Grappelly, an extraordinary violinist, at Les 3 Maillets.
It’s also impossible to forget Billie Holiday, whose voice conveyed raw, authentic emotion that marked not only music but social and political history. These artists didn’t just shape jazz: they elevated it to timeless art, still influencing generations of musicians and listeners worldwide.
P.-A. T.: What pushed you to launch Catherine Euvrard Consultants in 1990?
C. E.: My dual expertise in Procter-style rigor and Actuel-style madness taught me to love others, not be afraid to speak to strangers, and to be straightforward, far from the rigid approaches I saw in many firms. In 1990, with that conviction, I founded Catherine Euvrard Consultants with a clear goal: to uncover talent where no one thinks to look, explore unexpected horizons. My first client, Noël Goutard, then chairman of Valeo [automotive supplier, ed.], entrusted me with a mission with a phrase that still resonates: “If you’re useless, there will never be two of you.” There were more than 200 at Valeo. That challenge marked the start of a fruitful and lasting collaboration built on trust and success, with that group and many others.
P.-A. T.: What are the main difficulties you encounter in finding the “rare pearl” in recruitment?
C. E.: The difficulty lies in the fact that true talents aren’t looking; you have to hunt them where they are, sometimes comfortably employed and satisfied. LinkedIn and databases alone aren’t enough. It’s an investigative job, almost like undercover policing, and you must have good intuition to find the ideal person for each company. Moreover, getting leaders to change their minds about an ideal candidate is a challenge that amuses me.
P.-A. T.: What are your best and worst memories in recruitment?
C. E.: My best memory is probably my first assignment for LVMH, where I managed to recruit a key leader “a bit of an outsider” who succeeded brilliantly in that group. Conversely, my worst memory is probably an assignment where, after recruiting a leader, he didn’t show up because he played one company off against another and took the higher offer.
P.-A. T.: You have a look that stands out, daring colors and original accessories; you who collect hats. What advice would you give to those who want a unique style?
C. E.: Playing with colors and accessories is for me a true source of pleasure and expression. My advice, as a style enthusiast, is simple: dare to be authentic. Own your fashion choices fully and don’t be afraid to stray from the beaten path. Style isn’t just about trends; it’s a way to reflect who you are deep down. For me, hats are not just an accessory; they’re a signature element. The secret is to feel good in what you wear. When you’re in harmony with your clothes, it shows outwardly and that confidence becomes your best asset. My motto: “ridicule has never killed anyone, if you own it.”
P.-A. T.: How do you see the evolution of your profession in the age of LinkedIn and digital omnipresence?
C. E.: LinkedIn and digital tools have certainly made professional information more accessible, but I don’t think they will ever replace human contact, intuition and understanding a company’s culture. That’s at the heart of our profession. You have to dig into personality, put it at risk and see how it reacts. Digital is a tool, but not an end in itself. It’s hard to persuade via the internet.
P.-A. T.: You also have a rich family life, with children in varied careers. How did you manage to balance personal and professional life?
C. E.: It’s not always easy, but I’m lucky to have children who are very autonomous and who took diverse paths, from finance to film directing and digital. I’ve always tried to keep a good balance between my professional and personal life, although, like everyone, there were harder moments to manage. But family remains a priority for me.
P.-A. T.: What can we wish you for the future?
C. E.: To keep an excessive optimism that helps get through rough seas, and above all to have plenty of humor in business.
Catherine Euvrard’s Books
Get Catherine Euvrard’s books by clicking the links below:
En avoir ou non…, JC Lattès, 2004
On marche sur la tête!, Eyrolles, 2007