Étienne Leenhardt

Étienne Leenhardt (born 25 July 1962) at Montpellier, in the department of Hérault, is a French TV host, journalist, editor, and executive. Beginning March 2004, Étienne was Deputy Director of Information for France 2. From September 2008 to the end of 2015, he was the presenter of the magazine Un œil sur la planète before going to Samah Soula.

Leenhardt was born July 25, 1962 in Montpellier, to Nicolas Leenhardt (1931-1986), professor of mathematics, and Françoise Boucomont (born 1932), secretary to the Protestant Institute of Theology. He has three brothers and a sister.

After receiving a degree in languages from Université Paul Valéry in Montpellier, Leenhardt studied at the School of Journalism in Paris. Previously chosen to host variety shows by La Cinq, he presented from 1990 to 1991 at Télématin, on France 2. Leenhardt presented the news show 20 heures of France 2 from 1994 to 1995. Placed in special operations, he then become the correspondent of France 2 for Washington, D.C., and then London.

In 2003, he became editor of the service Enquêtes et reportages (investigations and reports), then in March of the following year, he became Deputy Director of Information of France 2, alongside Arlette Chabot. At the start of September 2008, he succeeded Thierry Thuillier in presenting the quarterly magazine on geopolitics Un œil sur la planète and took over the management of investigations and reporting, while remaining Deputy Director of Information.

On the eve of 14 July 2010, which saw delegations of armies of thirteen African countries participating, as guests of honor, at the parade on the Champs Elysees, the reporter said on the set of 20 heures of France 2: Sur le plan politique, il n’y a pas de dictature en Afrique francophone ("Politically there are no dictators in French speaking Africa")

In September 1988, Leenhardt married Nathalie Senneville, Editor in Chief of the Protestant weekly Reform. He is the father of three children, Hugo (1991), Jeanne (1993), and Emma (1997).