Amaury Vadon
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