Marc Antoine Autheman is expecting challenging times ahead after he takes up the role of chairman of international settlements provider Euroclear, but as a man who has experienced first-hand two of the most high-profile and complex mergers in French banking history, facing up to challenges is nothing new.

The Frenchman, who gained Masters degrees in law and economics at the University of Paris, has followed a well-trodden path that has involved working in politics as well as at international finance bodies before joining a French bank.