Few business leaders have made their mark on a company in as assertive and durable a fashion as Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, the British manager who has become very much part of the French establishment in his 37 years at L’Oréal.

Chief executive since 1984, and chairman and chief executive since 1988, Sir Lindsay – known as “OJ” within the organisation, or “OG” if you use the French pronunciation – has produced consistent double-digit growth in pre-tax profit.