Born in 1946. Sud-Est, France. Management assistant, 1965-1967. Employee at SOFRES, 1975-1979. Local Councillor (1983-1989) and Councillor at the town hall of Marseille (1989-1995). Deputy Mayor of Marseille, with special responsibility for tourism and festive events (1999-2001). Second Deputy Mayor of Marseille responsible for tourism, relations with the European Institutions, and Marseille, European Capital of Culture 2013 (since 2008). Member of the Committee of the Regions (1998-1999). President of the Marseille Tourism Office since 1995. UMP National Secretary (2002-2004). Member of the UMP political bureau (2004-2008). MEP since 2000