Bertrand de La Chapelle was the Co-Founder and Chief Vision Officer at the Datasphere Initiative and the Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Internet & Jurisdiction Policy Network. A pioneering implementer and tireless promoter of multistakeholder governance processes for over two decades, he dedicated his career to building bridges among governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia to address complex digital governance challenges.

Bertrand passed away on August 26, 2026, in Paris, France, at the age of 67. Throughout his life, he was guided by the firm conviction that “there is no greater mission for humans than uniting humans.”

Career & legacy

• Digital governance pioneer: As a key participant in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS, 2002–2005) and France’s Thematic Ambassador and Special Envoy for the Information Society (2006–2010), Bertrand helped shape the foundational architecture of global Internet policy.

• Global leadership: He served as a Director on the ICANN Board of Directors (2010–2013) and was a frequent speaker, contributor, and mentor across major Internet governance processes, including the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), EuroDIG, and EuroSSIG.

• Tech entrepreneurship: An engineer by training, Bertrand co-founded and served as President of the virtual reality company Virtools in the 1990s, which was later acquired by Dassault Systèmes.

• Academic background: Bertrand graduated from the École Polytechnique (1978), Sciences Po Paris (1983), and the École Nationale d’Administration (ENA, 1986).

In September 2026, over a hundred colleagues, friends, and world leaders in digital policy gathered online to celebrate Bertrand’s life, intellect, warmth, and enduring contributions to global digital governance (read the full tribute here). His visionary work, optimism, and commitment to cross-border collaboration continue to serve as a north star for the Datasphere Initiative.

Honoring his memory

• Online memorial: You can read tributes, view photographs, and leave personal messages on Bertrand’s Memorial Page on Keeper.

• To stay connected and receive updates about future initiatives being established in Bertrand’s name, please fill out the Interest Form. A nonprofit entity will be established in his name to support fellowships to develop leaders in Internet and global governance, multistakeholder approaches, and to inspire and support the continuation of his visions and aspirations.