Marie Besnier Beauvalot

Early Life

Marie Madeleine Yvonne Besnier was born on July 30, 1980, in France. She is the daughter of Michel Besnier, who served as CEO of Lactalis from 1955 to 2000. Her grandfather, André Besnier, founded the Besnier Group, later known as Lactalis, in 1933. She has two brothers, Emmanuel and Jean-Michel Besnier.

Rise to Success

Marie, along with her siblings, inherited French dairy giant Lactalis in 2000. Under her family's leadership, Lactalis has expanded its global presence and increased its market share, becoming a leader in the dairy industry.

Key Business Strategies

Marie Besnier Beauvalot is a major shareholder of Lactalis. She owns 20.7% of the company, a business that sells $20 billion worth of products, including popular brands like President brie, Milkmaid yogurts, and Valbreso Feta. The family also holds stakes in Italy's publicly traded Parmalat and Frommageries Bel.

Philanthropy

Marie is known for her philanthropic efforts and supports various charitable organizations. She is involved in promoting the dairy industry and educating consumers about the importance of dairy products in a healthy diet. She is also involved in the Milk for Good endowment fund, which has supported the La Source association offering art workshops for the Aide Sociale à l'Enfance, and helped set up France's first integrated pediatric oncology center with the Curie Institute.