Michel Prada (born 2 April 1940) is a lawyer and administrator who became a French civil servant, holding a number of senior positions.
Prada was born on 2 April 1940 in Bordeaux. He attended the Institut d'études politiques de Bordeaux, and then the Ecole Nationale d'Administration from 1964 to 1966. He graduated from the University of Law and Economics with a master's degree in Law.
Prada is married and has 5 children. He has been awarded the titles of Commander of the "Légion d'Honneur" and Great Officer of the "Ordre National du Mérite" and is also Chevalier of the "Ordre des Arts et Lettres". He has been Chairman of the Board of the Orchestre de Paris and of the Board of the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Bordeaux.
Prada was appointed an Inspecteur des Finances, holding this position from 1966 to 1970. He was then transferred to the Ministry of the Economy in the Directorate of Public Accounting, becoming a Director of Accounting in 1978. He was appoint Budget Director in 1985. In 1987 he was promoted to Inspector General of Finance. From 1988 to 1995 he was Chairman of Crédit d'Equipement des Petites et Moyennes Entreprises (Credit Facilities for Small and Medium Businesses), a bank. He was a member of the Economic and Social Council and of the National Credit Council between 1994 and 1995.
Prada was Chairman of the French Securities Regulator from 1995 until 2002. He was Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) from September 1996 to September 1998, and Chairman of the Technical Committee from September 1998 to May 2000. He was again Chairman of the Technical Committee from 2006 to 2008. In November 2003 he became Chairman of the Autorité des Marchés Financiers, which regulates the stock market. Prada was a founding member of the Financial Stability Forum, the Forum of European Securities Commissions and the Committee of European Securities regulators.