Emmanuel Besnier is the CEO and controlling shareholder of family-held Lactalis, one of the world's largest dairy firms with $20 billion in sales. His father founded the company in 1933. It now sells products including President brie, Milkmaid yogurts and Valbreso feta. His younger siblings, Jean-Michel and Marie, split the rest of the ownership in the family's milk and cheese giant. Besnier and his siblings own stakes in Parmalat, the maker of Babybel, Frommageries Bel and Boursin. Lactalis now employs 85,000 and owns more than 266 plants in 94 countries.
