Macron hosts CEOs at Versailles Palace in Brexit offensive

Emmanuel Macron stepped up his bid to lure businesses away from Britain to France by hosting 140 top executives at the opulent Palace of Versailles last night.

The French President spoke in English as he schmoozed with bosses from firms including JP Morgan, Google and Facebook at the famous chateau.

The charm offensive – dubbed Operation Seduction – is part of his mission to try to use Brexit to convince businesses to move across the Channel to Paris.

The world’s corporate elite flocked to Versailles – once home to the French ‘Sun King’ Louis XIV – to be wined and dined by over a dozen French ministers.

They were hosted in the  Galerie des Batailles, the grandest chamber in the palace which is lines with paintings glorifying French military victories across the centuries.

The French President (pictured at last night’s ‘choose France’ summit) spoke in English as he schmoozed with bosses from firms including JP Morgan, Google and Facebook at the famous chateau. Emmanuel Macron wants to lure business away from Britain to France after Brexit

And they feasted on dinner prepared by the top chef Alain Ducasse, who has been dubbed the ’emperor of French cooking’ and holds the maximum three Michelin stars.

French aides told reporters the lavish gathering was part of their drive to swoop in on businesses based in London after Brexit.

It was described as a ‘mini Davos’ as many of the business chiefs were stopping off on their way to the global business summit in the Swiss Alps.

Speaking during his visit to London last week, Mr Macron said France is in a ‘competition’ with other EU countries to try to swipe business from London.

He told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: ‘Sure we want to attract maximum activity, why? Because this decision has an impact for a lot of players.

Former CEO of Cisco Systems, John Chambers (pictured left at Versailles last night), France's President Emmanuel Macron (pictured centre), and French Minister of State for the Digital Sector Mounir Mahjoubi (pictured right), attend a signing ceremony at last night's summit

Former CEO of Cisco Systems, John Chambers (pictured left at Versailles last night), France’s President Emmanuel Macron (pictured centre), and French Minister of State for the Digital Sector Mounir Mahjoubi (pictured right), attend a signing ceremony at last night’s summit

John Chambers (pictured left) Emmanuel Macron (pictured centre) and Mounir Mahjoubi (pictured right) dined on food cooked by a Michelin-starred chef during the opulent summit at Versailles

John Chambers (pictured left) Emmanuel Macron (pictured centre) and Mounir Mahjoubi (pictured right) dined on food cooked by a Michelin-starred chef during the opulent summit at Versailles

‘As a result of the EU referendum they will have to choose between the different cities, so there is a competition between the different cities.’

Rival financial centres like Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam are desperately trying to attract some of the City of London’s booming businesses. 

France has already offered special tax status for expatriate executives and slashed payroll charges for new employers.

And recognising that English is the language of international business, it has proposed a new English-language commercial tribunal.  

A spokesman for Goldman Sachs told The Times: ‘It was a constructive day of meetings to discuss the investment environment in France. 

‘We welcome the government’s determination and ongoing dialogue and President Macron’s commitment to continue to strengthen the French economy.’

All of the business guests had to bring along a plan for investment in France in order to attend the party.

Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, Goldman Sachs’ Lloyd Blankfein and JP Morgan’s Jamie Dimon were among those on the guest list.

 



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