Elisabeth Ponsolle des Portes is the President and CEO of the Comité Colbert since January 2003. The Comité Colbert is an association that groups 70 companies of the French luxury industry and represents a turnover of approximately 11.7 billion euros-more than 80% deriving from exports. The objective of the Comité Colbert is to project and advance a modern concept of luxury goods based on creativity, the culture of savoir-faire, and a passion for excellence and quality. As CEO, she develops the Comité Colbert's activities in three main missions: Anticipation, Lobbying, and Communication-whether in France or abroad.

In her more than 30 year career, she has been Member of the Centre d'Analyse des Manuscrits Modernes (CAM, or Study Center for Contemporary Manuscripts), Marcel Proust Panel (1975 - 1980), Teacher of Classical Literature(1972 - 1982), Project manager for the Direction des Musées de France (French National Museums, part of the Ministry of Culture) (1982 - 1986), Deputy Secretary -General, then Secretary-General as of 1991, of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) A non-governmental organization associated formally with UNESCO (1986 - 1997) and General Director of the Union des Fabricants (1998 - 2002).