Early Life
Margarita Olegovna Bogdanova was born in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg), Russia, on July 1, 1962. At age seven, she tragically lost her parents in a train accident. She was raised by her grandfather, an electrical engineer. She studied law in Moscow and economics in Leningrad, preparing her for a career in business.
Rise to Success
Margarita met Robert Louis-Dreyfus on a flight from Zurich to London in 1988. They married in 1992. She took over as chair of the Louis Dreyfus Group in 2009 following her husband's death. In 2016, Margarita gave birth to twins at age 53. She has maintained her position as the chairwoman of Louis Dreyfus Company, contributing to its continued success in the global market.
Key Business Strategies
As chair of the Louis Dreyfus Company, Margarita has overseen the company's continued growth and strategic initiatives. Louis Dreyfus Company is one of the 'ABCD' companies, which control a significant amount of the world's agricultural commodity trading. Margarita has also been involved in the sale of assets, such as the sale of LDC Metals in 2018. She has focused on expanding the company's reach and adapting to changing market conditions.
Philanthropy
Margarita Louis-Dreyfus is the founder and president of the Paris-based Louis Dreyfus Foundation. This foundation focuses on helping smallholder farmers and rural communities become self-sufficient, contributing to food security and alleviating poverty.