.png)
Chapter 21
Michel Roux Jr.
One of the most accomplished leaders that I have ever come across in terms of reaching the top of his profession is Michel Roux Jr.
There are approximately 20 chefs who have two Michelin stars, Michel has trained or worked with over 50% of them in some capacity. He is part of three generations of food: his father Albert and uncle Michel revolutionised restaurant cooking when they settled in the UK in the Sixties and his daughter has opened her first restaurant ‘Caractère’ in Notting Hill.
During lockdown, I had the chance to work with him on several occasions during this period he turned 60, became a Grandad and sadly lost his dad (Albert Roux) on 4th January 2021, having lost his Uncle Michel Roux Snr on 11th March 2020. He could so easily have “shut up shop” as this usually positive person was very down like so many people during this unprecedented period. He has found a way through and protected the Roux brand and I admire him for taking this stance and for his resilience; his levels of excellence and business have made him one of this country’s most celebrated and respected chefs.
By Harvey Thorneycroft
Chapter 21: Michel Roux Jr
One of the most accomplished leaders that I have ever come across in terms of reaching the top of his profession is Michel Roux Jr.
I first got to work with him in January 2004 when he was a guest at an event that I was putting together for Berwin Leighton Paiser at Stapleford Park in Leicestershire alongside Frank Dick OBE, the former head of European Athletics, and the victorious captain of England for the 2003 World Cup, Martin Johnson MBE. The event was called Getting the Edge and each of the personalities gave their perspective on how they achieved optimal performance in different parts of their lives. Frank Dick used an analogy which has stayed with me until this day. He likens life to a three-lane highway and all three lanes in this highway must run parallel to each other if you are going to obtain maximum performance. He described the outside lane as your career, your middle lane as your family, friends and environment and the inside lane as your own personal wellbeing. At the time, Frank would suggest that many of the white middle class lawyers that were present that day were slightly out of kilter being locked in the outside lane and would probably not ever get out of this lane unless they were rudely interrupted, through ill health, bereavement, or divorce, such was the nature of the city at the time. The day was designed to redress the balance with three personalities that had to all intents and purposes readdressed the balance. The reason I reached out to Michel Roux in those days was because it was well-documented that he had been stressed and had been able to use exercise and lifestyle management to improve his life. Running was his saviour: he used it as a motivational tool. Michel suffered from intense migraines, smoked a lot and used to drink. He was inspired by the London marathon. Running became an addiction. His migraines disappeared, he lost weight and started to think more clearly. That is the benefit of exercise in general but running has the bonus of allowing you to be out on your own for an hour or so and therefore it is a tremendous release. Michel is constantly having to deal with people; there is rarely a minute in the day where he is not answering a question or a ringing phone such is the nature of managing a two Michelin Star kitchen. Having time to himself through running was vital for his sanity.
Continue reading