He was a long-time member of the French civil service. He served as Prefect of Guadeloupe from November 1989 to July 1991 and as the chief of police of Paris from 2001 to 6 December 2004.
Likewise, he then served as the Monégasque Minister of State, a post equivalent to Prime Minister. As such, he had the honor of administering Prince Albert II his oath of office as Sovereign Prince of Monaco.[3] He held that position from 1 June 2005 to 29 March 2010, having been appointed three months earlier by the prince and the French government.