Since its founding in 1956, Groupe Savencia Saveurs & Spécialités has grown to around 21,000 employees with an annual turnover of €5bn. Boasting a multifaceted portfolio of premium cheese and dairy brands with leading positions in the processed meat, seafood and chocolate sectors, the company operates in 29 countries and markets its products in more than 120 countries. Having been at Groupe Savencia since 2008, group general counsel Thierry Favier has worked on various landmark projects for the company in the last decade.

He had key roles on the Group’s partnership with Terra Lacta, announced in 2013, to create Lesagure Fromageries and then, two years later, supported the Group’s rebrand from Bongrain. More recently he oversaw the acquisition of Oao Belebey, a specialised manufacturer of pressed cheeses in Russia, which was completed in January 2018. Prior to Groupe Savencia, Favier held positions at the Vivendi Group, Groupe Intermarché and Groupe Auchan in an in-house legal career that dates back to 1997. He graduated from the University of Montpellier in 1988.