Early Life
Margarita Olegovna Bogdanova was born in Leningrad, Russia, on July 1, 1962. Her parents died in a train accident when she was seven years old. She studied law and economics, gaining a diploma in accounting from the St-Petersburg School of Commerce in 1981.
Rise to Success
Margarita's career began in finance, including positions in accountancy, sales and marketing in Russia and Switzerland. She met Robert Louis-Dreyfus, heir to the Louis-Dreyfus fortune, on a flight in 1988 and married him in 1992. After Robert's death in 2009, she inherited a significant stake in the Louis Dreyfus Group, becoming its chairperson. In November 2020, she sold a 45% stake in the company to ADQ, an Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund.
Key Business Strategies
Margarita Louis-Dreyfus has overseen the Louis Dreyfus Company's global expansion, including its operations in over 100 countries and a workforce of approximately 19,000 employees. She focused on expanding and diversifying operations, along with sustainable practices. She was involved in the sale of Olympique Marseille, a French soccer team, in 2016.
Philanthropy
Margarita Louis-Dreyfus is dedicated to philanthropy, founding Human Change, a global advocacy campaign focused on children's mental health. She also founded the Louis Dreyfus Foundation, which aims to reduce hunger and poverty by providing sustainable solutions to small farmers.
