Meet the Team
Varied backgrounds, one passion in common: sharing our love of travel.
Our expertise at your service
Manuel
Founder and CEO
Born and raised in the countryside, with roots in both the Basque Country and Berry, Manuel has always been passionate about architectural heritage, history, and gardens. He moved to Paris in 1991 for his studies, later settling there with his family, though his connection to his rural upbringing remains a defining part of who he is.
A chance encounter over a dinner he hosted for a guest from San Angelo, Texas, revealed his true calling in hospitality. Inspired by that experience, he founded Exclusive & Private in 2010, turning a personal talent for creating meaningful connections into a thriving business.
Joséphine
Travel Designer
Joséphine became part of Exclusive & Private in 2021, after studying languages and tourism. Her years in London, followed by a year split between Brazil and Chile, gave her a broad international perspective and hands-on experience in understanding different cultures. At E&P, she specializes in meticulously designed itineraries across France, combining smooth logistics with immersive cultural encounters to create truly memorable trips.
Based in Paris, she loves exploring secret streets and the French countryside, and she has a soft spot for discovering smelly French cheeses along the way.
Louise
Travel Designer
Louise’s journey into cultural travel began long before she joined Exclusive & Private in 2022. With an MBA in Cultural Management from ICART and a natural curiosity for authentic places, she brings both structure and spontaneity to every itinerary she designs. Her six years in Israel gave her a deep appreciation for cultural nuance and a global mindset she now applies to every trip across France.
Now based in Paris, she splits her time between uncovering the city’s quiet corners and escaping to sunny coasts whenever she can.
Blandine
Travel Designer
After studying classics as well as English and Spanish translation, Blandine joined the team in 2016. Since then, she has focused on curating itineraries throughout France to share her passion for the country’s landscapes, history, and gastronomy, while also working to streamline internal processes and continuously enhance collaboration with partner agents.
Still a wanderer at heart, she can often be found exploring the wilderness with her backpack when not in the office or at home in Tours, in the Loire Valley.
Umi
Travel Designer
With a Franco-Japanese background and life experience in France, Japan, and the United States, Umi brings a truly international perspective to the team. Currently completing her final year of a Bachelor in Global Communication, she joined E&P in 2024 as a project manager and travel designer, through a work-study program.
Trilingual in French, Japanese, and English, she is passionate about intercultural communication and dedicated to crafting meaningful experiences for clients. A quiet presence, but a breath of fresh air, her motivation and attention to detail speak volumes.
clotilde
Administrative and Accounting
Manuel’s right hand, Clotilde oversees the company’s daily operations with remarkable precision. She manages the French market, handles accounting tasks, and ensures that nothing slips through the cracks. In an office that thrives on creative energy and joyful chaos, Clotilde is the calm at the center: ultra-organized, highly dependable, and always ten steps ahead, making her not only a life-saver in the day-to-day but also a driving force behind the company’s continued growth and stability.
Aude
Administrative and Accounting
With the team since 2018, Aude is a true ray of sunshine in the office: always singing, always smiling, and often making us forget we are at work rather than at a family reunion. Her energy is infectious, and so is her sweet tooth (which might explain the ever-dwindling chocolate reserves). Behind the laughter, she plays a key behind-the-scenes role, managing the company’s accounts and handling payments with care. Thanks to her, our accounting stays strictly by the book.