No. 42 - FRANCOISE MONTENAY (CHANEL)

Age: 62

Years at current company: 11

Industry: Luxury goods

Turnover: $9.8bn

Rate of growth: 11% since 2016

Having crafted Chanel’s digital revolution, Françoise Montenay nevertheless refuses to sell the brand’s products online. She prefers to focus on the customer experience. Instagram's most successful luxury brand has thus entered the capital of UK platform Farfetch to offer a range of personalized online services. She is also very involved in the voluntary sector. France’s luxury ambassador has developed socio-aesthetic centres offering treatment to women affected by certain diseases.

Notable success: After two complicated financial years in 2015 and 2016, the illustrious house has now boosted its turnover by 11%.