The succession process for the head of the Institut national du service public (INSP), successor to the ENA, is accelerating with two main candidates: Éric Thiers and Jérôme Filippini. The appointment is expected by the end of December for a start in January 2026.
Maryvonne Le Brignonen, the current director of the INSP, announced on November 20 that she would not seek another term. Launched on that date, the recruitment process aims for a swift appointment. The INSP, which replaced the École nationale d’administration in January 2022, trains France’s senior civil servants.
Isabelle Braun-Lemaire, interministerial delegate for senior state oversight and the institute’s supervising authority, states: “The applications have been received. We are examining them ahead of an audition committee to be held no later than December 22.” The date of December 16 is already set for potential hearings, to ensure a start in early 2026.
Among the applications, two profiles stand out: Jérôme Filippini and Éric Thiers, well-known figures in political and administrative circles. An ENA graduate and magistrate at the Cour des comptes, Jérôme Filippini served as secretary general for public action modernization under President Hollande. He later held prefect positions in Eure, La Réunion, and Corsica, where he positioned himself as an anti-mafia figure, stirring local political circles. For personal reasons, he returned to the Cour des comptes in August 2025, after less than a year in Ajaccio.
Éric Thiers, meanwhile, is a familiar name in public spheres, though details of his candidacy are not specified in current announcements. This duel promises a careful transition for the institution, a cornerstone of training France’s administrative elite.
