Philippe Boutié started his career conducting econometric surveys for the French Ministry of Economy. He then spent several years in Los Angeles at Diagnostic Research, a market research agency, before founding Diagnostic Research's European office in Paris. He then worked for several years as head of Research and Strategic Planning at Burson-Marsteller, the Public Relations arm of communication giant Young & Rubicam. In 1994, he left for a one-year sabbatical in Greece, windsurfing and publishing several papers on marketing and communications. In 1995, he returned to Burson-Marsteller in London, as head of Business Development for Europe, before leaving to found LAMTAR, a self-described "fourth wave" strategic planning and communication consultancy.

Philippe Boutié holds an MBA from San Diego State University, and a Master's Degree in Economics and Statistics from ENSAE (Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Economique) in Paris.