Nicolas Revel (born May 26, 1966, in Paris) is a senior French civil servant and political advisor. Throughout his career, he has held key administrative and governmental positions, including Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic and Prime Minister, Director of the National Health Insurance Fund (CNAM), and Prefect of Paris.
Biography and Career
Nicolas Revel is the son of philosopher and journalist Jean-François Revel and journalist Claude Sarraute. He graduated from the École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) in 1993 (Léon Gambetta promotion), a highly prestigious French civil service academy.
Revel began his career as a magistrate at the Court of Auditors (Cour des comptes), France's supreme audit institution, where he served from 1993 to 1997.
Key Appointments:
- Government Advisor (1997-2002): He served as a technical advisor in the cabinet of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin, specializing in social and health issues.
- Ministerial Chief of Staff (2012-2014): Following the election of François Hollande as President, Revel was appointed Chief of Staff to several ministers, including Jérôme Cahuzac and Michel Sapin at the Ministry of Budget.
- Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic (2012-2014): In a highly influential role, he served as Chief of Staff to President François Hollande from 2012 to 2014, playing a crucial role in coordinating government policy and presidential initiatives.
- Director of the Caisse Nationale d'Assurance Maladie (CNAM) (2014-2020): From 2014 to 2020, Revel led the French national health insurance fund. During his tenure, he was instrumental in reforming the healthcare system, managing the national health budget, and implementing policies related to drug pricing, access to care, and the digitalization of health services. His leadership at CNAM was particularly notable during the initial phases of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister (2020-2022): In July 2020, upon the appointment of Jean Castex as Prime Minister, Nicolas Revel was named his Chief of Staff. In this capacity, he played a central role in guiding government policy and managing the administration during a critical period marked by the ongoing health crisis and its economic and social repercussions.
- Prefect of Paris and of the Île-de-France Region (2022-Present): Since October 2022, Revel has served as the Prefect of Paris and the Île-de-France region, one of France's most important administrative roles. In this position, he is responsible for the state's actions, public order, security, and the implementation of national policies across the vast and densely populated capital region.
Impact and Legacy
Nicolas Revel is widely regarded as a highly capable and influential figure within the French administration. His career trajectory demonstrates a deep expertise in public finance, social affairs, and governance. His leadership at CNAM had a lasting impact on French health policy, and his roles as Chief of Staff to both a President and a Prime Minister underscore his central involvement in the highest echelons of French state power. As Prefect of Paris, he continues to hold a position of significant authority and responsibility in managing the challenges and development of the French capital.