Bio Olivier Laouchez

Olivier Laouchez is a visionary leader and serial entrepreneur from Martinique (French Caribbean), known for his substantial contributions to promoting African culture and empowering youth globally. A graduate of ESCP Business School in Paris, Laouchez began his career in South-East Asia to develop Renault VI business. He then founded Antilles TV, the first private television channel in the French West Indies. He later managed Secteur Ä, a leading independent hip-hop label in France.
In 2003, Laouchez co-founded Trace, with backing from Goldman Sachs, to create a media group focused on Afro-urban culture. Under his leadership, Trace has grown significantly, now operating 28 TV channels, 80 radio stations, and a large social media presence, reaching 350 million fans across 190 countries.
Beyond entertainment, Laouchez launched Trace Academia, a free online vocational training service aimed at empowering disadvantaged youth and women in Africa. This platform has trained over 300,000 learners. Additionally, Trace's music monetization platforms have helped over 40,000 African artists receive royalties.
Laouchez is now focused on building the TRACE+ Super App that will combine all Trace assets powered by ByteDance 5TikTok) tech. He is also deeply committed to social causes. He co-founded the French Foundation for the Memory of Slavery and is a Knight of the French National Order of Merit.
Trace's influence spans across Africa, the Caribbean, Brazil, and Europe, promoting inclusion and diversity. Laouchez frequently speaks at international conferences on creative industries and youth empowerment and lives in South Africa. Laouchez speaks 6 languages (French – English – Spanish – Portuguese – Bahasa Indonesia – Créole). He is married and the father of 3.