AFAM Community Leaders

Xavier Wartelle (Li 182)
CEO since June 2020, Board Member and Co-Founder since 2007, Operations Committee Member, Yosemite mentor

Hi I am Xavier! I came to Silicon Valley 25 years ago. I became impassioned by tech start-ups and I launched 6 startups myself resulting in 4 acquisitions. I also co-founded the French Tech Hub and big bang factory, two startup accelerators. I love new ventures and entrepreneurs.  Please feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Jean Pommier (An 183)
CFO since June 2023, Board Member since 2017, Operations Committee Member

I am an An 183 alum and have lived in Silicon Valley since 1998. In addition to Paris Tech's Mechanical Engineering degree, I got a second MSc in Software Engineering and Artificial Intelligence and worked in this field since 1987 when I joined ILOG upon its creation in France and until its acquisition by IBM 22 years later. I led ILOG's Services organization for many years and, at IBM, I'm a Distinguished Engineer and CTO for our Digital Business Automation services business. Beyond work I call running my second job, focusing mostly on ultra marathon trail running nowadays and actively blogging about it. You can also find me on LinkedIn.

Yarith Phay (Bo 191)
Secretary and Board Member since June 2020, Operations Committee Member

Hi, my name is Yarith! I am a Bo191 alum and live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I came here from London in 2001 and somehow could not leave this beautiful place. 

After Arts et Metiers, I worked in France, the United Kingdom and in the US. I am currently a security engineering program manager at Apple. In my spare time, I like to give back to my community and have been involved with a number of non-profits. For instance, my wife and I had, a few years ago, the opportunity to help and co-found EFBA, a local non-profit association providing French after school programs. I’d like now to put that experience and my motivation to help AFAM build a strong Gadz’Arts brand and community here in the USA. 

Aurore Prevot
Board Member since 2018, Vice-President since June 2026, former US Representative 2014-2017

I joined AFAM in 2014 as representative, after coming to the US, with my family. As an alumnus from Arts et Métiers ParisTech, I have always sought to play an integral role in the community, and was thrilled to contribute over the years in building the Arts et Métiers in the US. Seeing the students and alumni succeed and thrive in the US has been an incredible source of motivation and accomplishment.

Audrey Stewart
Board Member & Arts et Métiers Representative since 2010

Hi, I’m Audrey. I am Director for International and European Development at Arts et Métiers. I graduated from the University of Strathclyde Business School in 1991 and joined Arts et Métiers ParisTech in 2007, first in the Lille campus, and then in 2010, in the head office. I am also a representative of the CDEFI (Conference of Directors of Engineering Schools) in Americas group in charge of defining the international strategy for research, innovation and higher education for the Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Research; and I am an elected member of the academic committee of INSA Val de Loire. You may connect with me via LinkedIn.

Pascale Morin (Ai 179),
Board Member, SOCE Representative since June 2025

Alain Le Floch (Ch 170)
Board Member since June 2026, representing Arts et Métiers Foundation.

Alain Le Floch is a highly regarded executive in the French agribusiness and food industry. Drawing on extensive leadership experience across major industrial corporations and leading agricultural cooperatives, he has held international supply chain and operations leadership roles at Cadbury Schweppes before serving as Chief Executive Officer of Malteurop, the world’s leading malt producer, Champagne Céréales, and later Vivescia, where he played a key role in the creation and growth of one of Europe’s largest grain processing groups.

As Chief Executive Officer of Terrena from 2019 to 2024, he led the cooperative’s strategic transformation by balancing financial performance, innovation, and the transition toward more sustainable agriculture. His career has been defined by a long-term strategic vision, a strong commitment to enhancing the competitiveness of the agricultural value chain from farm to consumer, and a recognized ability to lead complex business transformations.

Mr. Le Floch holds an engineering degree from Arts et Métiers ParisTech and is an alumnus of INSEAD.

He currently serves as Senior Advisor at CFI France, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, and as Chairman of the Arts et Métiers Foundation.

Nicolas Horde (Ai 214)
Board Member since 2018, West Coast Group president since 2023, Operations Committee Member (Shasta and Sequoia programs)

Hi, I'm Nicolas, an Ai 214 alumnus. I am a former representative in Atlanta and a West Coast group president since 2023. Do not hesitate to connect with me on LinkedIn.

Vincent Schmitt (Ch 182)

AFAM board member since June 2026

Sacha Ghebali ( Bo 211)
Former Board Member 2020 -2026, East Coast Group President, Operations Committee Member

Hello, I’m Sacha!  A Bo211 alumnus, I came to NYC in 2019 to build a FinTech start-up in financial inclusion.  Prior to this, I moved to Boston to study Finance at MIT and received a PhD in Aeronautics from Imperial College in London where I spent 4 years, two of which leading the UK Alumni Chapter.  I started my entrepreneurial journey building AI software for aerospace and automotive industries and am now working in crypto finance at a seed-stage startup.  Today I am East Coast Group Zident, taking over after my predecessor J.-B. Commans.  Do not hesitate to connect with me via email or LinkedIn, and please shoot me a message should you come to NYC.

Mathilde Godard (Bo 203)
Central Group President (Houston, TX)

Hi everyone, I’m Mathilde Godard, Bo 203. After a diverse 18-year career with Air Liquide — spanning from Healthcare operations in Spain and Brazil to industrial merchant in Europe — I moved to Houston in 2025 to serve as Vice President Central Texas. I am eager to bring my energy and commitment to diversity to anumate our group, foster enriching connections, and continue supporting our alumni and students in this dynamic geography.

Valentin Fehr (Cl 212)
Atlanta group representative, Séquoia committee member

Adrien Monvoisin (Cl 204)
Boston group representative

Michel Vulpillat (Ch 83)
Southern California AFAM representative, member of the Operations Committee since 2021, Yosemite mentor

Hello, I started my career in the motosport and automotive development industry involved both with Peugeot and Renault.
Later I had an opportunity to come to the USA to start up a video game company and subsequently to do the same in Japan.
Over the years as part of an international group, leader in video games, I was involved in strategic management and directorship of many private and public companies, in the USA (NASDAQ), Europe (Euronext) and Asia. My focus was multi cultural operation, merger and acquisition, operational and global strategy structure.
I also consulted for various private companies desiring to expand to such markets.
I have now lived in Los Angeles for over 30 years and currently volunteer in innovation and engineering at the National Museum of the Surface Navy.

Patrice Brossard (Bo 95)
DG Amériques, former board member, member of the Operations Committee since 2020

Eric Benhamou
Co-founder, President 2007-2020, President Emeritus

Hi, I’m Eric! I am an Aix 72 alum. I arrived in the US in 1976. I graduated in 1977 from Stanford's School of Engineering and pursued a career in the IT industry in Silicon Valley. I was fortunate to create, grow and lead several successful IT companies such as Bridge Communications, 3Com and Palm. I now serve on several public company boards and allocate the rest of my time between my Venture Capital Fund Benhamou Global Ventures, LLC, the INSEAD global business school in Fontainebleau and the IDC in Herzeliya where I am a visiting professor, and of course AFAM.

Marc Amblard (Cl 184)
Board Member  2017- 2026, former CFO June 2018 - June 2023, Yosemite mentor

Marc Amblard is the founder and managing director of Orsay Consulting. He re-settled in France in Aug 2026 after a decade in Silicon Valley. An expert in the deep transformation of the mobility space, he provides advisory services focused on the future of mobility and automotive technologies, i.e. electrification, autonomous driving, software, AI, new modes, and adjacent domains. Marc has been focusing on the technologies, business models and stakeholders that are driving the profound transformation of mobility for many years. He provides OEMs, automotive suppliers and other mobility-related companies various services including strategic advisory, market insight and domain-specific deep dives, tech and startups scouting or executive briefings. In addition, he advises or mentors mobility-related startups. Marc maintains a proprietary database with ~5,000 mobility-related companies (mostly startups) based around the globe. He often speaks at mobility conferences and publishes a monthly newsletter on the mobility revolution (over 100 articles published). Finally, he is the author of "Mobility Revolution - How AI, EVs, Robotaxis, and New Modes Radically Transform the Ecosystem”, a book published in August 2026.

Marc leverages 25+ years in senior positions at PSA, Valeo, Renault and Alstom (rail), in Europe and the USA. He received a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Arts et Métiers in Paris, France and an MBA from the University of Michigan.

Jean-Luc Nauleau (An 181)
Board Member since 2007-2026, Yosemite mentor

Jean Prevot (Ch 198)

Yosemite mentor

Corentin Lazarus (Me 209)
Member of the Shasta Committee since 2019

Hello, I'm Corentin, I moved to the US in 2011 to earn a MSc in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech. I worked for 6+ years in the Oil & Gas industry and transitioned in 2019 to the Aerospace industry, taking on new challenges with Blue Origin on the launch system of the New Glenn rocket. Having been a mentor for AFAM and helped Arts et Metiers students looking for internships, I decided to be further involved and have joined the Shasta program committee, whose mission is to promote internships for Arts et Metiers students in the US. I am always happy to connect with fellow alum on LinkedIn, so don't hesitate to reach out!

Xavier Ovize (Cl 189), Detroit Gadz group representative, member of the Sequoia committee since 2026

Benjamin Miséréré Janssens (Me 210), Central group VP, Shasta committee member

Albina Patou-Chebykina
US Community Manager since 2018, Operations Committee Member

Hello, I am Albina Patou-Chebykina. Born and raised in Russia, I fell in love with French culture and French language when I was a teenager. This led me to study in France, first at the Sorbonne Nouvelle and then at the business school ISEE where I graduated in International Affairs. I worked in Paris and in Moscow doing marketing and public relations prior to arriving to the
United States in 2011. You can contact me via email or Linkedin.