Jean Todt was born in 1946 in Pierrefort, France. He is married to Michelle Yeoh and has one son, Nicolas and one grandson, Maxime. He studied economics, business and marketing at the Ecole des Cadres in Paris.
Mr. Todt is the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Road Safety since April 2015 and the International Peace Institute Directors Board’s Chair.
He is a Member of the FIFA Foundation Board since 2023.
Mr. Todt is also the International Olympic Committee President’s Advisor on Safety and Mobility and the Chairman of the Suu Foundation Board.
He started his career in 1966 as a rally co-driver and participated in the World Rally Championship until 1981. He won the World Rally Championship for Manufacturers with Talbot Lotus in 1981. Between 1981 and 1990, he was Director of Racing and Founder of Peugeot Talbot Sport. Between 1990 and 1993, he was Director of Sporting Activities of PSA Peugeot Citroën. Between 1993 and 2006, he was Team Principal of Formula 1, Ferrari. Between 2006 and 2009, he was Chief Executive Officer of Ferrari.
Mr. Todt is the former President of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) (2009-2021).
He also devotes his time to several charitable causes. He is one of the Founders and Vice-President of the Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle Epinière (ICM), an institute focused on medical research for brain and spinal cord disorders.
Mr. Todt was awarded the Humanitarian of the Year Award by the United Nations Association of New York in 2016 and the Lifetime Achievement for Contribution to Road Safety by the European Commission in 2022.
Since 2021, Mr. Todt is Colonel in the citizen’s reserve of the French Gendarmerie Nationale.
Mr. Todt received the prestigious Republic of France Légion d’honneur’s Grand Croix in 2011.