Executive Summary

Eric Abensur is an executive coach and strategic advisor to founders, CEOs, and leadership teams in technology, entertainment, and telecom. He works with C‑level leaders in multi‑billion‑dollar companies and high‑growth start‑ups on leadership in complexity, decision‑making, and the next phase of their careers.

An award‑winning former CEO with more than 30 years in international leadership roles, Eric now helps leaders become agents of change in environments where control no longer scales. He was accredited by Andreessen Horowitz in 2024.

WHY LEADERS WORK WITH ME

I help founders, CEOs, and leadership teams navigate uncertainty—not by trying to control complexity, but by developing the inner capacity to lead within it.

After more than 30 years in international leadership roles (CEO and CFO in technology, telecom, and digital businesses in Europe and the US), I learned that organizations rarely fail for lack of intelligence or structure. They fail when complexity outpaces the leader’s capacity to make sense, decide, and act. That realization sits at the heart of my work on leadership in complexity and CLEAR Leadership. Today, as an executive coach, mentor, and strategic advisor, I work with C‑level leaders and founders on:

✓ Decision‑making in complex, high‑stakes environments

✓ Leadership posture and resilience under pressure

✓ Building accountable, high‑performing teams

✓ Navigating growth, governance, and board dynamics

I am also a mentor at the Paris Dauphine Incubator and at Unicorn Factory Lisboa, working with early‑stage founders on leadership, governance, and organizational design from the very beginning of their journey.

BACKGROUND IN LEADERSHIP AND INDUSTRY

Earlier in my career, I held executive roles across TMT industries in Europe, the US, and Asia:

  • Finance Director at France Telecom / Orange Group’s Pay‑TV division (1998–2001)

  • Chief Executive of Freeserve, later rebranded Wanadoo UK, where I led one of the most successful marketing and corporate rebrands of the decade

  • Chief Executive of Venda Group (London, New York, Bangkok), a leader in cloud‑based ecommerce applications, which I positioned for a multi‑million‑dollar exit in 2014

  • Founder of Sidekick Coaching Technologies, a company focused on scalable, technology‑enabled coaching for employees.

I started my career with Ernst & Young in Paris and Los Angeles, specializing in technology, media, and telecom.

Since 2022, I have dedicated my time exclusively to coaching and mentoring leaders and founders.

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

  • Top 10 Most Influential People in New Media – The Guardian, 2004

  • UK Best Consumer ISP Award – Wanadoo UK (formerly Freeserve), three years in a row: 2004, 2005, 2006

  • Top 100 Most Influential French Business Leaders of today and the future – Enjeux Les Echos, 2011

Educational Background and Professional Affiliations

  • Eric has a Finance Master's degree – University Paris IX-Dauphine.

  • He is a Professional Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation.

  • Eric is certified in CCL’s suite of 360 assessments, the FIRO-B®, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)®, Workplace Big Five Profile™.

  • In addition, Eric is Hogan 360 certified.

  • Eric is fluent in French and English.