Alexandre Benalla is a French expert in global security, strategic intelligence and cybersecurity. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, he founded Institut Vidocq to advance independent research and public discourse on the security challenges that define our era.
His career began in the operational reserve of the French Gendarmerie Nationale, followed by close-protection and political-security roles. He worked within the security team of François Hollande's 2012 presidential campaign, and in 2016 joined Emmanuel Macron's presidential campaign as head of security. He subsequently served at the Élysée Palace as chargé de mission and deputy to the President's chief of staff.
He is also the founder and president of COMYA, a Geneva-based strategic advisory firm specialising in global security, economic intelligence and cyber resilience. He is consulted as a security expert by international media, including Al Arabiya English and Blick.
Areas of focus at Institut Vidocq
- Sahel security and the post-Western withdrawal landscape
- Gulf geopolitics and the rise of Gulf states as security actors
- Private military companies and the privatisation of security in Africa
- Cybersecurity threats to critical infrastructure
- Critical minerals and the geopolitics of supply chains
- Defense policy and European security architecture
Selected media appearances
- Al Arabiya English, analysis of the Trump assassination attempt and lone-actor threats (July 2024)
- Blick, interview analysing the Trump assassination attempt (July 2024)