After working for the Group of Cooperative Credit (1973-1981), Thierry Jeantet was French InterMinisterial Vice-Delegate for Social Economy (1981-1985) and in 1985 he was given the task by the Prime Minister to report about “Modernisation of France about Social Economy”. He became General Secretary of the French Grouping of Societies for Mutual Insurance (Gema) between 1986 and 1992, since when he is General Director of a European Group of Economic Interest, Euresa, gathering seven big societies of mutual insurance or cooperatives and three other little societies. One of the founders of “France Active” and member of the Council of a joint micro-bank, between 1999 and 2004 Mr Jeantet was member of the French Economic and Social Council (Vice-President of the Section for Productive Activities) and between 2000 and 2004 President of the Centre of Young Managers and Actors of Social Economy (CJDES). One of the founders of “Solidarity France/Poland”, he also participated in the “Marche pour la Survie du Cambodge”. Member of control or administration councils of various mutual aid associations or insurance societies in France (Mutavie), Poland (Tuw) and Portugal (Sagres), Mr Jeantet is President of the association managing the international meetings of managers of social economy (”Rencontres du Mont Blanc”). He is also member of a European network of Social Economy Foundations and also of the board of Macif-Foundation. He also published various books, among which ?The Collective Individual? (1984), “Direct Democracy/Modern Democracy” (1991), “European Social Economy” (2000), “Social Economy: between efficacy and solidarity” (2006).