A graduate of ENA (Ecole Nationale d’Administration), Etienne Barel began his career as a finance inspector in the French Ministries of Economy, Finance, Action and Public Accounts from 1994 to 1998. He joined BNP Paribas in 1998 as Deputy Director of Strategy and Development.

Étienne Barel joined the French Banking Federation (FBF) on September 1, 2020, as Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of the Banking and Accounting Supervision, Taxation, Institutional Relations (Europe and International), Investment Banking and Markets, and Climate departments.DG FISMA.