Published by Gbaf News
Posted on February 24, 2017
6 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
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The organisation representing the business district of Paris La Défense – Defacto – has today announced massive investments in new infrastructures to accommodate the increased influx of new talents.
Following months of campaigning since the referendum result, Paris La Défense is confident it will attract a significant number of international businesses looking for a new base within the European Union. This would accelerate the growth of the business district, that observes an increased interest of companies both French and foreign to set up offices there.
In addition to this, there will be investment in new communal spaces to support the thriving business eco-system at La Défense and safeguard the enviable quality of life on offer to workers there. A new flexible working space called ‘Oxygen’ will cater to start-ups, entrepreneurs and visitors from around the world, as well as providing a space for workers at La Défense to mingle socially, enabling stronger connections between start-ups and big business. There will also be 9 brand new restaurant facilities including bistros, a fine-dining restaurant and a lounge bar for afterworks.
Commenting on the new infrastructure Marie-Célie Guillaume, CEO of Defacto / Paris La Défense said:
“With only a few weeks to go until Article 50 is triggered, we want to send a powerful message to businesses that are uncertain about their future in London. Paris La Défense already has a huge amount of world-class office space, and we want to build on this to support the rapid growth of our thriving business eco-system.
“Brexit represents a huge opportunity for us to realise the full potential of La Défense, and after months of campaigning and talking to business leaders in London behind the scenes, we’re confident that many will choose Paris La Défense as their new European base.
“All the signals are at green for Paris La Défense right now. The skyscrapers are filling up, there is a strong push for new investments in the business district with the construction of new buildings and the development of new services, which goes in hand with the quality of life in La Défense: 92% of the employees are satisfied to be working here. It is where it’s happening now, so we are confident that it is the best place for companies leaving the UK too. HSBC, that already has offices in Paris La Défense, will relocate 1000 jobs to Paris.”
The infrastructure announcement follows a robust campaign to court London-based businesses. In October 2016, Paris La Défense launched a series of adverts at Heathrow airport, Eurostar stations including St. Pancras International and Paris Gare du Nord, and a range of national and financial publications. The campaign urged business leaders and workers in London to “join the frogs”, highlighting Paris’s unrivalled vibrancy and quality of life combined with its position as a leading centre of business and innovation.
The organisation representing the business district of Paris La Défense – Defacto – has today announced massive investments in new infrastructures to accommodate the increased influx of new talents.
Following months of campaigning since the referendum result, Paris La Défense is confident it will attract a significant number of international businesses looking for a new base within the European Union. This would accelerate the growth of the business district, that observes an increased interest of companies both French and foreign to set up offices there.
In addition to this, there will be investment in new communal spaces to support the thriving business eco-system at La Défense and safeguard the enviable quality of life on offer to workers there. A new flexible working space called ‘Oxygen’ will cater to start-ups, entrepreneurs and visitors from around the world, as well as providing a space for workers at La Défense to mingle socially, enabling stronger connections between start-ups and big business. There will also be 9 brand new restaurant facilities including bistros, a fine-dining restaurant and a lounge bar for afterworks.
Commenting on the new infrastructure Marie-Célie Guillaume, CEO of Defacto / Paris La Défense said:
“With only a few weeks to go until Article 50 is triggered, we want to send a powerful message to businesses that are uncertain about their future in London. Paris La Défense already has a huge amount of world-class office space, and we want to build on this to support the rapid growth of our thriving business eco-system.
“Brexit represents a huge opportunity for us to realise the full potential of La Défense, and after months of campaigning and talking to business leaders in London behind the scenes, we’re confident that many will choose Paris La Défense as their new European base.
“All the signals are at green for Paris La Défense right now. The skyscrapers are filling up, there is a strong push for new investments in the business district with the construction of new buildings and the development of new services, which goes in hand with the quality of life in La Défense: 92% of the employees are satisfied to be working here. It is where it’s happening now, so we are confident that it is the best place for companies leaving the UK too. HSBC, that already has offices in Paris La Défense, will relocate 1000 jobs to Paris.”
The infrastructure announcement follows a robust campaign to court London-based businesses. In October 2016, Paris La Défense launched a series of adverts at Heathrow airport, Eurostar stations including St. Pancras International and Paris Gare du Nord, and a range of national and financial publications. The campaign urged business leaders and workers in London to “join the frogs”, highlighting Paris’s unrivalled vibrancy and quality of life combined with its position as a leading centre of business and innovation.
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