A graduate from the universities of Rennes and Paris VIIDenis Diderot with a degree in Philosophy and Sociology, Stephan Kutniak worked in the Cultural Department of the Opéra de Paris from 2000 to 2003 as Production Administrator for various actors and directors. He then held the post of Director of Cultural Affairs with Département des Hauts-de-Seine before he was appointed Deputy Managing Director.

Since October 2017, Stephan Kutniak has held the position of Director of Artistic Development and Cooperation at Institut Français, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ operator in charge of French governmental cultural activities abroad.