Emmanuel Besnier is a French businessman, the billionaire CEO of Lactalis, the largest dairy company in the world by sales volume. His immense wealth is rooted in his family's multi-generational industrial empire, which was founded by his grandfather, André Besnier, in 1933.

Besnier's career is defined by his extreme discretion—he is one of the most famously reclusive and low-profile CEOs in Europe, often referred to in the French media as the laitier invisible (the invisible dairyman). He inherited the leadership of the family-owned business, which has successfully avoided public listing, allowing for long-term, patient strategic planning free from short-term market pressures.

Emmanuel Besnier assumed control of Lactalis and its flagship brand, Président cheese, in the early 2000s. His strategic vision centered on aggressive international expansion and consolidation of the global dairy industry. Under his leadership, Lactalis has engaged in massive acquisitions, buying up dairy brands across Europe, the U.S., and globally.

The company achieved its status as the largest dairy company in the world, with sales exceeding €30 billion in 2024. A key recent milestone occurred in August 2025, when Lactalis agreed to acquire a large portion of New Zealand giant Fonterra's consumer businesses, including iconic brands like Anchor and Mainland, for nearly $4 billion. This acquisition cemented Lactalis's immense global scale in finished consumer dairy products and secured Besnier's multi-billion euro fortune. He continues to run the company with an absolute commitment to family control and a high degree of corporate privacy.

Emmanuel Besnier's social impact is structural, stemming from Lactalis's role as a massive global employer (thousands of employees) and foundational provider of essential dairy products. His company's commitment to scale profoundly influences the global agricultural and food supply chains.

His career, though highly successful, has been marked by occasional public controversy regarding the conditions under which the company operates and its relationship with milk farmers, reflecting the high-stakes environment of the global agri-food industry.

Emmanuel Besnier maintains the professional, formal style of a low-profile French executive. His attire is consistently conservative and high-quality, reflecting his deep aversion to public visibility. His aesthetic is one of stability and quiet, immense authority.

Residing in Laval, France, his luxury is the profound security and autonomy derived from his multi-billion euro fortune. His life is dedicated to the long-term, private stewardship of his family's dairy legacy, often remaining unseen by the media despite his company's massive global presence.