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Patricia Barbizet By World Economic Forum – Wikimedia

Top 10 French business people

France is one of the world’s most modern countries. The economy of this country is diverse with the government and private companies excelling in business. Tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and pharmaceuticals are some of the prominent sectors in France.

France’s economy is both capitalistic and socialist. This has allowed individuals with great business ideas to own successful companies. The French government has provided a conducive environment for businesses to operate freely.

Behind successful businesses are men and women who dedicated their time to create a product that the public believed in. Let us look at the top 10 French businesspeople.

1. Liliane Bettencourt – L’Oréal

Liliane Bettencourt began working for the family business at the age of 15. He family owned a cosmetics company that had started by selling synthetic hair dyes.

At the time the company started, its products were found in more than 17 countries. Liliane inherited her father’s business after he died in 1957. She became the largest shareholder of L’Oréal. Under her leadership, the company owned other beauty brands like Lancôme, Helena Rubinstein and Ralph Lauren.

She grew her wealth and became one of the richest women in the world. In 1987, together with her family, they established a charitable foundation known as Fondation Bettencourt Schueller.

Her foundation is dedicated to humanitarian, medical and cultural initiatives.

Liliane was described as a bold and curious entrepreneur who encouraged her employees to be daring and not settle for less.

2. Fran̤ois-Henri Pinault РCEO Kering

Francois Pinault is a billionaire businessman, the chairman and CEO of Kering and President of Groupe Artémis. Under his leadership, Kering changed from being a retail company to and becoming a luxury goods group.

Pinault swiftly climbed the ladder to top management from being a regular employee to being the head manager of Pinault Distribution in 3 years.

He saw numerous business opportunities in the European market in fashion and luxury. Pinault, therefore, steered his company to that direction.

He merged with the Gucci group in 1999. The group further expanded its collection of luxury brands with the acquisition of Swiss watchmaker Girard-Perregaux, Italian tailor Brioni, Hong Kong jeweller Qeelin, Italian jeweller Powellite and many others.

3. Patricia Barbizet РBoard Member Groupe Art̩mis

Patricia Barbizet By World Economic Forum – Wikimedia

She is a prominent figure in the French business world and has served in different leadership roles throughout her career.

Barbizet was the first female CEO of Christie’s company, a position she held for two years.

Her expertise in running a business saw her hold high positions in different successful companies. Barbizet served as the executive director of Groupe Artemis, Vice-chairman of the Board of Kering, and the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Christie’s.

She was appointed by the former French president, Nicholas Sarkozy, to head the Investment Committee of the €20 billion Strategic Investment Fund from 2008 to 2013.

4. Yves Carcelle – LVMH

By priceminister – Wikimedia

Yves was a fashion entrepreneur and the chief executive of Louis Vuitton (LV). It is a division of the luxury goods multinational LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH).

He held that position for more than two decades, during which he saw his company become the leader in producing global luxury and fashion goods.

After graduating from college in 1966, Yves sold sponges and other cleaning supplies from the back of his car.

Under his leadership, LV opened its first store in China in 1992. Later on, more branches were opened across Asia and globally.

He hired Marc Jacobs in 1997, as LV’s creative director to work on a line of ready-to-wear clothes and accessories. They became highly sought-after by customers to date.

5. Delphine Arnault – Executive vice president of Louis Vuitton

Delphine Arnault began her career as a consultant at McKinsey, where she worked for two years. She has worked in different successful fashion companies such as John Galliano’s company, Christian Dior Couture.

In 2013, Delphine was appointed as the Executive Vice president of Louis Vuitton to oversee all of LV products.

She has served on the board of Christian Dior, Pucci, Loewe and Céline. Delphine is also a member of the LVMH Board of Directors and the executive committee.

6. Bernard Fraisse – Fareva group

Bernard Fraisse is the founder and CEO of the Fareva Group, a European leader in pharmaceutical subcontracting.  After buying a small packaging unit, Bernard Fraisse started in the distribution of bulk chemicals.

Later in 1985, he started manufacturing industrial detergents and three years later in vaporizer production. In 2004, he merged his various businesses into a holding company and called it Fareva.

Fareva has spread to other countries outside of Europe such as Turkey, Brazil, Mexico, United States. Bernard Fraisse is the sole owner of the company and has one partner, his brother.

His company’s cosmetic line has worked with luxury giants like Chanel, L’Oréal and Yves Rocher.

7. Carrie Perrodo – Perenco

Carrie Perrodo is a Singaporean-French billionaire businesswoman. She inherited an international oil company Perenco after the demise of her husband Hubert Perrodo.

The company, Perenco, is one of the world’s largest family-owned oil companies with operations in Gabon, Peru, and Vietnam.

Her company leading in independent oil and gas production in Europe today. They produce at least 465,000 boepd through its drilling, development and operations. Perenco has a presence in 14 countries with more than 3000 wells both onshore and offshore.

8. Michel Leclercq – Decathlon

By Edward Hands – Wikimedia

Michel is a businessman, founder and owner of the Decathlon Group, the world’s largest sporting goods retailer. He is a council member in the Decathlon foundation established in 2005.

Decathlon, established in 1976, now has more than 1500 stores in 51 countries.

The company has an array of more than 36000 references and equipment covering over 70 sports.

Its products are of superior quality yet affordable to all sports lovers. The company strives to make sports equipment, accessories and clothing available to every individual.

9. Marie Besnier Beauvalot – shareholder Lactalis

Lactalis Group is one of the largest dairy company owned by Besnier Family.  Marie inherited shares of Lactalis after her father died. She has grown to be known as a successful businesswoman.

The company has been run by three generations of the Besnier family that was founded in 1933. Marie runs the company together with her two brothers.

Her father changed the company name from Besnier to Lactalis in 1999. Marie was listed among the top 8 in the Forbes list of the world’s richest billionaires under the age of 40.

She is also in the list of the wealthiest billionaires in the world in the 355th place.

10. Arpad Busson – Financier

Last on the list is Arpad Busson who is a London-based financier and philanthropist from France. He started his career in 1986 after joining Dubin Swieca, a hedge fund company.

Arpad later founded the EIM group that works with several philanthropic organizations across the globe.

He is a trustee of the children’s charity Absolute Return for Kids as well as serving as the chairman of the organization’s board of directors. Busson is also the founding member of the Theodora Children’s Trust.

Arpad also serves as a patron of Elton John AIDS Foundation.