Ferrand graduated high school in Bünde, Germany and studied German and Law at Toulouse 1 University Capitole and then Université Paris-Descartes where he became a PS member at the age of 18.

After leaving university, Ferrand worked as a journalist for multiple publications including Center Presse, Auto Moto, Circuler, Vie publique, La Dépêche du Midi[3] and Le Monde.

[4] In 1991, Ferrand became the communications advisor for Kofi Yamgnane,[5] the then- secretary of state to the Minister of Social Affairs and Integration.

[citation needed] While on the Social Affairs Committee, Ferrand was an EU-appointed rapporteur on resolutions around workers and the use of cheaper European labor.

[12] In his report, he stated that European workers feel detached due to the lack of social cohesion and the use of cheaper labour to replace them.

After there was a postponement of the eco-tax, Ferrand and other Breton politicians asked Minister of Energy, Ségolène Royal to rethink the tax plan.

On 19 June 2017, just a day after easily getting reelected as MP in his Finistère constituency in the second round of the 2017 parliamentary elections, Ferrand resigned from Cabinet at the President's request.

[21] From November 2017 to June 2022, Ferrand has been part of LREM's executive board under the leadership of the party's successive chairmen Christophe Castaner and Stanislas Guerini.

[22] On 12 September 2018, after being selected as the majority's candidate in an internal primary, Ferrand was elected President of the National Assembly with 254 votes out of 484, replacing LREM colleague François de Rugy who had just been appointed Minister for Ecological and Solidary Transition in the Second Philippe Government.

Ahead of the 2022 legislative elections, he helped forming a coalition of LREM with two other centrist parties – Democratic Movement (MoDem) and Horizons – to coordinate which candidates it presents.

After leaving the National Assembly because of his defeat at the polls in the 2022 French legislative elections, Ferrand set up a consulting firm in October 2022.