Was it your passion for opera that led you to set up Artist’s Office?
No, not especially. I discovered the world of opera almost by chance, in 1989, when I arrived in Geneva, through a friend who was a stage manager at the “Grand Theâtre”. In time, I met numerous artists who appeared on the Geneva stage and struck up many friendships with them. These contacts naturally led me to become interested in this art form, and to understand and appreciate it.

When did you have the idea of helping artists?
The more I saw of them, particularly the singers, the more I realized that, in their everyday life, they were rarely helped or advised on the management of their affairs. Nobody seemed to be responsible for their communications or the promotion of their talent. I saw them come and go, to and from other opera houses throughout Europe or the rest of the world, preparing for their next production, and I often asked myself how they could rehearse and learn their next role and, at the same time, worry about their personal tasks, particularly management.

How long did it take you to finalize this project?
It was at the beginning of 2000 that I started to look closely into this problem and to think about an idea that could help artists and meet their needs. I shared my ideas with some of them and, seeing their enthusiastic reaction, decided to set up Artist’s Office.

In two words, what is your objective?
It's to enable opera singers and soloists to benefit from a range of personalized services, both in the organization and management of their affairs, and in the promotion of their talent, while they may not necessarily have the means themselves to employ one single person to handle these matters for them.

Why should they trust you when you come from the world of banking and not from an artistic background?
To have enjoyed a career like mine, in the international network of a large bank is, I think an assurance of seriousness and trustworthiness. The banking world is highly diversified and I have benefited from this. I'm a generalist, that is to say, I've successfully worked in many of the fields that are directly related to the services Artist’s Office is now offering.
Nothing would have persuaded me to quit a successful professional career in an international bank if it hadn't been for the fact that I had a very personal desire to put my skills at the disposal of the interpreters of an art which I respect and who very often don't know who to turn to for help! It's this choice, both from the heart and from conviction, which is a guarantee of success for the artist …

But are you alone in dealing with all the services offered
by Artist’s Office?
No, that wouldn't be serious and I have no claim to be a specialist in all the services offered. I work with other professionals, such as specific communication services (newsletter editors, website designers, press officers, etc.) and, where needed, with international tax specialists. Except for administrative and financial management, my role is to manage and coordinate the range of services and to act as the artist's principal go-between.