After his studies, Gilles Bragard joined the family textile business specializing in professional clothing for the culinary industry. He expanded the range of chef jackets and created the first luxury chef’s jacket, the "Grand Chef" jacket, which became a global success and allowed him to connect with many renowned chefs around the world!

This led him to establish the Club des Chefs des Chefs (CCC) in 1977, bringing together the personal chefs of heads of state. Today, the CCC is regarded as the G20 of gastronomy.

In 2012, Gilles Bragard sold his company and dedicated himself entirely to culinary diplomacy and the development of the CCC’s initiatives. Each year, he organizes the annual meeting of this exclusive culinary association in a different country, with the support of the host nation’s head of state, who welcomes the Chefs des Chefs to honor their essential role in the well-being of world leaders.

Over the years, Gilles Bragard and the Chefs des Chefs have met nearly 50 heads of state, including Presidents Biden, Obama, and Clinton at the White House, Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, Indian Prime Minister Modi… And more recently, Italian President Sergio Mattarella, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and President Macron.

Each of these high-level encounters is an opportunity to highlight the significant role of gastronomy in soft power.

Gilles Bragard’s motto, which has become the CCC’s guiding principle, is: If politics divides people, a good table brings them together.

Languages spoken: French and English

Photo credit: Club des Chefs des Chefs