Victor-André Masséna, Prince d’Essling, Duc de Rivoli, is a direct descendant of Maréchal André Masséna. He was born on 29 April 1950. With a background in law (Masters, DESS) and a degree from Sciences-Po Paris, he also studied Business Economics (INSEAD) and was taught at the Institut des Hautes études de la Défense Nationale. His career in the private sector began at the Paris bar and continued with important posts in several companies (Aérospatiale, Fauré-Lepage). From 1994 onwards, he worked on several missions abroad on behalf of the government and other international organisations: he was Economics and Business Advisor with the French Embassy in Bosnia, attaché to the High Respresentative in Bosnia-Herzegovina, attaché to Carl Bildt, special representative of the Secretary General of the UN for the Balkans. He joined the Board of Directors of the Fondation Napoléon on 10 February 2004, and was elected President on 13 December 2005, replacing Baron Gourgaud. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Musée de l’Armée [French Army Museum] and since 1988 has been the Vice-President of that museum (of which the President is the Military Governor of Paris). Victor-André Masséna carries the Croix de la Valeur Militaire. He is an Officier de la Légion d’Honneur and an Officier de l’Ordre National du Mérite.