"I had to learn quickly about the new environment, new schools, new teachers. I had to build relationships with new people all the time. It certainly opened my mind," he says.

In 1978, he made the first significant turn in his career by returning to Paris and becoming a journalist, covering the high-tech industry for leading French business newspaper Les Echos. That job gave him opportunities to meet pioneers in the second wave of the personal computer and software industry, including Bill Gates.

In 1984, he changed path again against the advice of family and friends, resigning from the newspaper to join Control X, a 10-person startup that produced software for the newly launched Macintosh 128K. Fleurot says it was the best choice he ever made.

From there Fleurot changed career yet again, moving into marketing and progressing through a successful career that included stints as a CEO at Les Echos Group and later at the Financial Times Group from 1999 to 2006.

"That move in 1984 was very risky," he says. "But, although I really enjoyed being a journalist and I have a lot of respect for serious journalism, I was probably more of an entrepreneur than a commentator. I was right to follow my instincts."

Fleurot says that a passion for technology has helped him to become an expert at adapting businesses to the digital era.

"I think you are good in your job when you are really interested in much of what you do, so when I have moved, it is because I lost my passion. I was trying to get a new challenge to rekindle my passion," he says.