Avantages
Amazing products make for a passionate and engaged workforce. Decentralized business model means each brand and market company is able to to act independently (to a point) and set its own internal goals and objectives - often creating a feeling of working for a SME. This builds a strong bond amongst the employees and a great working environment. There are also plenty of travel and global relocation opportunities.
Inconvénients
Being a French organisation, nepotism is still a major issue. Many times I was instructed to interview the son or daughter of a group company director, even if that individual held none of the skills required for the role I was recruiting. Failure to offer such an interview, or in many case to actually employ the person, meant the recruiting manager was seen as not being a team player. Ultimately it's only those who are prepared 'play the game' that will stay with the group long-term and sadly there are now a large number of business leaders in very senior roles simply because of who they are or who they know. With just a handful of exceptions, the best and the brightest people that I worked with over the years have all left to pursue careers elsewhere.