Etienne Deniau started his career in 1990 working at Fimat, the Futures and Options brokerage arm of Société Générale, for which he ran the Tokyo office from 1993 to 1997. He was then appointed Head of Global Banking and Securities Services at the London Branch of Société Générale. Between 2000 and 2004, he pursued his career in retail banking in other banks. He moved back to Société Générale in October 2004.

Etienne Deniau, born in 1965, graduated at École Polytechnique in 1987 and at École des Mines de Paris in 1990.