Interview “Inside Out”: William Hodder, Lawyer & Ironman

For this sixth edition of “Inside Out,” we are pleased to welcome William Hodder, Digital & Intellectual Property Legal Counsel.

As a Franco-British, William holds a dual Master’s degree in International Business Law and European Law. He joined BNP Paribas Personal Finance in 2022.

For three years, he has been part of the Information Technology and Intellectual Property (TIPI) team at the Corporate Legal Department. He is in charge of implementing digital projects and particularly ensuring their compliance with European law (example: remote identification of clients and the negotiation of IT contracts).

Hello William, what is your “Unexpected Job”?

I would say that I am like a “path marker”!

My mission is to clear the paths to identify the various obstacles, guide the walkers so that they circulate without hindrance, in compliance with the law, without getting lost.

In short, I chart a safe and clear path within a complex universe, a bit like an explorer.

If I had to summarize my work in three missions, it would be:

I protect the interests of the bank and our clients by ensuring that every project complies with the rules and European regulations.
I negotiate contracts with external service providers so that the solutions implemented are effective and compliant.
I support the operating teams by guiding them step by step, answering their questions, and enabling them to progress confidently in their projects.

🦸‍♂️What’s your “little something extra”?

When I take off my lawyer’s hat, I put on shorts and sneakers to pursue my passion : endurance sports and particularly triathlon.

For six years, I have participated in long-distance triathlon events, particularly on the Ironman circuit: 3.8 km of swimming, 180 km of cycling and a marathon. I was particularly able to qualify for the latest world championships in Nice, in September, where I finished 120th out of 240 in my category and 600th out of 2,400 in the world ranking.

The secrets to prepare me? 15 and 20 hours of training per week.

My typical weekday?

🕕 5:45 AM : first swimming or running session
🕢 7:30 AM : heading to RER with my breakfast in the bag
🕘 9:00 AM : arrival at Unicity
🕛 12 PM : 2nd sports session, and a quick lunch
🕖 Evening : Stretching session

It’s a complicated pace sometimes but it’s also a powerful physical and mental engine to push oneself!

This discipline teaches me rigor, perseverance, and stress management, which I also apply in my daily working life.

😃 Because life is not just about work, what are your “3 Blissful Moments a Day” ?

Doing sports : it’s my moment, my bubble to clear my head and focus on my personal sports project.
A good meal with loved ones : I am a food lover and being an athlete is the perfect excuse to eat without feeling guilty and share good times.
Reading quietly : to recharge, it is essential for the mind

✨ The mascot has a magic wand, what are your 3 wishes for BNP Paribas Personal Finance ?

Facilitate exchanges between the various professions of the bank to better understand the needs of other professions and improve our service.
Leverage technological advancements to optimize and accelerate our work, and highlight the added value of staff
Integrate the protection of client interests into the daily routine of all staff so that security and the interests of clients become a natural practice in all our activities.