Born in France in 1956, Bernard Fraisse is a French self-made billionaire, the founder and 100% owner of Fareva, one of the world's leading industrial contract manufacturing organizations (CMO). Fraisse's background is deeply technical: he holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

His entrepreneurial journey began in 1981, at the age of 25, when he created a small packaging unit named Rhône Chimie Industrie (RCI). He quickly realized the immense potential in industrial subcontracting. By combining his engineering knowledge with chemical product research, he transformed RCI into Fabrication Chimique Ardéchoise (FCA). This commitment to vertical integration—controlling packaging, formulation, and production—became the hallmark of his entire career, allowing him to offer a comprehensive, low-cost solution to global consumer goods giants.

Bernard Fraisse’s career is a model of systematic, relentless expansion through industrial acquisition. He successfully diversified his initial chemical business into high-growth sectors, launching cosmetics manufacturing in 1995 and pharmaceutical manufacturing in 2002. The company, renamed Fareva in 2004 (from a local dialect meaning 'inspire to dream'), grew from a national SME to a global leader in industrial subcontracting.

Fraisse acquired numerous production sites across Europe and the American continent (including the US and Brazil). Today, Fareva is one of the world leaders in industrial subcontracting for diverse sectors, including household goods, beauty, makeup, pharmaceuticals, and Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). Still 100% owned and headed by Fraisse, the company has a massive global footprint, employing over 13,000 people across more than 41 locations worldwide. His success is a testament to the profitability of providing high-quality, vertically integrated industrial services to global brands that choose to outsource production.