The partners
Partners personally committed at your side
Drawing on more than twenty-five years of commitment at Athenora, the partners support their clients by combining strategic vision, experience and tactical acumen. They rely on a team with complementary skills and on a wide network of technical and political experts across Europe and the world (the Public Relations Global Network).
More than 50 agencies around the world
Stéphane Desselas
Founder and PresidentLinkedIn profile of Stéphane Desselas (new tab)
I founded Athenora in 2003 with one conviction: influence cannot be reduced to a technique for representing interests. It calls for an understanding of situations, a strategic vision and a certain idea of responsibility.
My career in European affairs, first within major organisations such as La Poste and EDF, then in consultancy, led me to develop an approach that combines professional rigour, independent judgement and an understanding of human and institutional dynamics.
Over the years, I have sought to enrich this practice through reflection, teaching and passing on what I have learnt. The author of two books on lobbying, I also teach at several higher education and professional training institutions.
Today, I see Athenora as a consultancy where every client deserves thinking of their own, where strategy comes before tools and where intellectual rigour must always translate into the ability to act.
Because advising means first understanding, sometimes questioning, and always seeking to open up new possibilities.
Natacha Clarac
Partner and Managing DirectorLinkedIn profile of Natacha Clarac (new tab)
A committed European, I chose to make influence my profession because I believe in the power of dialogue, in the exchange of ideas and in the ability of stakeholders to build new solutions together.
For more than twenty years in Brussels, I have helped organisations understand European dynamics and define their influence strategies. This experience has taught me that, beyond knowing the institutions and the balance of power, influence rests on an understanding of human relationships, the search for common ground and the ability to bring opportunities to light.
A resolute optimist, I like to question the obvious, overcome obstacles and turn complexity into the ability to act. I believe in influence that brings people together rather than setting them apart, and that combines the defence of legitimate interests with the search for solutions in the general interest.
As Managing Director of Athenora, I strive to bring this idea of consultancy to life with our clients as well as within our team. I believe in complementary talents, in trust and in collective intelligence, which give the strategies we build their full strength.
I remain convinced that, in influence, nothing is ever set in stone, and that our profession is also about opening up new paths.
