Early Life
Emmanuel Besnier was born on September 18, 1970, in Laval, France. He comes from a family with deep roots in the dairy industry. His grandfather, André Besnier, founded Lactalis in 1933. He attended Lycée de l'Immaculée-Conception and graduated from the ISG Business School in Paris.
Rise to Success
Besnier joined Lactalis in 1995 as the Director of Development. He became CEO in 2000 after his father's death. Under his leadership, Lactalis has grown into a global dairy giant, acquiring companies like Parmalat and expanding its product portfolio. He owns 83% of Lactalis with his siblings.
Key Business Strategies
Besnier is known for maintaining the family-owned status of Lactalis, enabling long-term strategic planning. Key strategies include expanding Lactalis' global presence, particularly in China and Southeast Asia, and acquiring major dairy companies. He has overseen key acquisitions, including Parmalat, and significantly expanded Lactalis's portfolio of dairy products. Despite challenges such as the 2017 salmonella crisis, the company has maintained its position as a market leader, generating annual revenues exceeding $30 billion.
Philanthropy
Besnier is involved in philanthropy and donates to the Francis-Le-Basser football stadium in Laval.
