No.50 - PATRICE THIRY (PROWEBCE)

Age: 46

Years at current company: 18

Industry: Internet & NICT

Turnover: $358m

Rate of growth: 233 % depuis 2012

After a difficult start when the internet bubble burst, Patrice Thiry succeeded in reversing the trend and brought his company to the stock market in 2006. Specializing in publishing software for staff representative committees, his company operates on a buoyant ‒ there are more than 38,000 works councils in France ‒ and under-exploited market.

Notable success: in 2015, Edenred had no hesitation in paying a 194% premium to take control of Prowebce, in association with its management. The new owner trusts the founder to conquer an estimated $15 billion global market.