While French far-right leader Marine Le Pen has been comfortably leading polls for April’s presidential election first round, things are a lot less clear for the run-off that will ultimately decide the race in May.

Former economy minister Emmanuel Macron has appeared as a possible winner in several recent polls.

In a former life, Macron was an investment banker at Rotschild & Cie. In 2012, he was on the team of deal-makers who clinched the sale of Pfizer’s infant formula business to Nestlé for €9bn.

While already advising then presidential candidate François Hollande on ways to boost France’s economy, Macron had no qualms helping Swiss-based Nestlé outbid French competitor Danone to secure Pfizer’s five formula plants.

These included the one employing 600 staff in Askeaton, Co Limerick.