Bernard Fontana holds a degree in engineering from the École Polytechnique and the École Nationale Supérieure des Techniques Avancées in Paris.

He has begun his career in the chemicals (SNPE), steel (ArecelorMittal and APERAM) and construction materials sectors (Holcim). He was CEO of APERAM before being appointed CEO of Holcim on 1 February 2012. 

On 1 September 2015, Bernard Fontana has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of AREVA NP. He was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Framatome (formerly AREVA NP) on 1 July 2016.

He is also a Board member at Thales, SSAB, and at GIFEN Services after serving as its Chairman and CEO for 4 years, and has been a member of the Council of the French Nuclear Energy Industry Group GIFEN since its creation in 2018. He is a member of the High Committee for Transparency and Information on Nuclear Safety in France. On 1 April 2024, Bernard Fontana has been appointed Group Executive Vice-President in charge of the Industry and Services Division of EDF and in October 2024, Chairman of Arabelle Solutions.

As of 5 May 2025 Bernard Fontana is Chairman & Chief Executive Officer of EDF.