Full Name: Amaury Vadon

Position and Company Name: VP for sales for the Africa, India and Middle East region and MD for the sub-Saharan Africa region at Michelin

Main Activity of the Company: Tyre manufacturing

Date and Place of Birth: November 5, 1987, Paris, France

Schools and Tertiary Education: A-Levels (with a scientific orientation); preparatory school in French literature; and a master’s degree in general management from EDHEC Business School

First Job: I started off as a waiter in restaurants in Belle-Ile-En-Mer, an Island off the coast of Brittany, in north-west France

Size of First Pay Packet: €1 200 a month

Career Path to Date: I progressed from account manager to regional sales manager, key account manager and then senior account manager

Number of People under Your Leadership: Michelin’s Africa, India and Middle East region, of which I am VP, employs about 8 000 people

Management Style: Genuine, open, transparent and assertive – it’s all about caring, while expecting the best from my team

Personal Best Achievement: My family and writing, directing and acting in a musical

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Life: My maternal grandfather

Person Who Has Had the Biggest Influence on Your Career: Olivier Dacquin, former commercial director of Michelin in France

Person You Would Most Like to Meet: Lars Ulrich, the Danish-born co-founder and drummer of US heavy metal band Metallica

Businessperson Who Has Impressed You Most: French chefs generally and, in particular, the likes of Alain Ducasse, Anne-Sophie Pic, Serge Vieira and Regis Marcon

Philosophy of Life: Gnothi Seauton – this is a philosophical maxim which was inscribed upon the Temple of Apollo in the ancient Greek precinct of Delphi. It means: “Know yourself” – and the rest will follow

Biggest Ever Opportunity: My current position

Biggest Ever Disappointment: The defeat of France by South Africa in the final match of the 2023 Rugby World Cup

Hope for the Future: A better world for our children that is environment and peace driven

Favourite Reading: Polar and thriller novels as well as French classic literature

Favourite TV Programme: Handmaid’s Tale

Favourite Food/Drink: Cheese pizza, Pizzoccheri (traditional Italian pasta) and Truffade (a traditional dish from Auvergne)

Favourite Music: My interests are very diverse, but I would mention a few bands: Metallica, RHCP, Radiohead, Coldplay and Black-Eyed Peas, as well as French musicians you might not know, such as Julien Dore, Benjamin Biolay and Juliette Armanet

Favourite Sport: Tennis, table tennis, badminton, squash and padel

Hobbies: Hiking, movies, literature, travelling, rugby and people

Car: Hyundai Tucson

Pets: None

Miscellaneous Dislikes: Harmful and mistrustful people, and leeks

Clubs: None