Laura Lemens Boy, a well-known press relations face and women’s advocate on the international TV circuit, has died aged 67.
Her family and friends released a statement confirming the France-based PR’s passing after a long illness. “A woman whose kindness, integrity and humanity touched so many, she leaves behind a luminous and indelible memory,” they wrote.
Lemens Boy had been in international TV communications for many years, and worked closely with RX France, the organizers of MIPCOM, on the Cannes conference and market over the years in several different roles. Born in the UK, she worked out of Paris for most of her career.
Among her work at MIPCOM, she is known for co-founding the International Mentoring Breakfast For Women In Entertainment, which has run for the past 13 years, through her MédiaClub’Elles organization. She was even interviewed remotely in October about the breakfast for the MIP Daily newsletter, though she didn’t attend the event.
MIPCOM Cannes and MIP London Director Lucy Smith, another Brit and friend of Lemens Boy for more than three decades, wrote a touching tribute on LinkedIn.
“She was one of the first people I met over 30 years ago when I arrived in Paris, fresh out of college, following my French musician boyfriend (now my husband and father of our son!),” she wrote. “Laura adopted me like a big sister. We bonded as two down to earth straight-talking girls with Northern roots, navigating our way through the expectations of Parisian life.”
Smith pointed to Lemens Boy’s role as a “a trailblazer in supporting women in the industry,” and added: “She was involved in many events at the MIP markets in Cannes over the years, including the annual MediaClub’Elles international mentoring breakfasts, and of course press events, during which many of the incredible talent such as the much-missed Robert Redford and the wonderful Jon Hamm fell under her spell! Many in Cannes will miss her unique, elegant and fabulous presence.
“Her exceptional ability to engage with people, relate to them and put them at ease was second to none. She sparkled at every occasion, oozing confidence.”
Jérôme Chouraqui, founder of French TV industry group MédiaClub, was another who payed tribute, and wrote: “Laura was elegance personified. Always kind, always fair, always attentive — with that unmistakable so British accent. She took a genuine interest in others and had a way of seeing the best in everyone around her.”
He added that “her career, her values, and her energy inspired entire generations of professionals,” and that her passing had left him “deeply saddened.”
Her funeral was held in Paris today. She leaves behind a husband and son.
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