After graduating in political and economic sciences, Jean-Paul Planchou began in 1973 a career as business economist and consultant, mainly at the Crédit Lyonnais (French bank).
Member of the French Socialist Party, he was a Member of the Parliament for Paris Department from 1981 to 1986, then from 1988 to 1993 for the Seine-et-Marne Department.
Municipal councillor of Chelles since 1989, he became the Mayor in 1995.
Jean-Paul Planchou was elected regional councillor in 1998 and has been chosen to be Vice-president of the region Ile-de-France in charge of economic development, innovation, information technology, tourism and social economy in 2010.