Emmanuel Besnier: A Leader in the Global Dairy Industry

Early Life and Education

Born on September 18, 1970, in Laval, France, Emmanuel Besnier pursued his education at the Institut Supérieur de Gestion in Paris. His education in business management has been instrumental in his effective leadership at Lactalis Group.

Career and Leadership at Lactalis

Emmanuel Besnier has been the CEO and chairman of Lactalis Group since 2000, succeeding in his role as a third-generation leader of the family-owned business. Under his leadership, Lactalis has expanded to over 80 countries, employing more than 85,000 people worldwide.

Significant Career Highlights

Besnier's tenure has been marked by pivotal developments, including the acquisition of Parmalat in 2011, which bolstered Lactalis' presence in the Italian market. In 2017, he managed a challenging salmonella outbreak crisis by initiating a major product recall and improving safety protocols. By 2020, Lactalis achieved €20 billion in sales under his leadership, reflecting strategic growth and substantial investments.

Recent Developments

Recently, Emmanuel Besnier expressed enthusiasm about acquiring Protein Works, underscoring the integration of innovative talent into Lactalis. He also emphasized maintaining the authenticity of OKA cheeses and shared a commitment with Triballat’s chairman to preserve traditional cheesemaking while leveraging Lactalis’s commercial scale. Furthermore, he described a key acquisition as a milestone in strengthening Lactalis’s market position in the UK.

Modified: 2026/08/23