Meyer

"Founded in 1848 by two New Orleans cotton merchants originally from Alsace, Lazard Frères was one of several American investment firms with deep southern roots. As the commercial shipping trade moved to San Francisco, Lazard followed. Then at the turn of the century, additional offices were opened in New York, and next in Paris and London. It was the David-Weill family, descendants of the Lazards, who controlled the firm and, wisely, brought Meyer into its Paris branch in 1927. He quickly earned respect in European financial circles for his role in helping to guide Citroën, the French automobile giant, through the depression of the 1930s."

"standing in Mr.—throughout our decades together I would always address him as either “Mr.” or “monsieur”—Meyer’s office, meeting him for the first time, I immediately understood the rebuke in his question. After two months at the firm, I had received a raise to $50 a week. Yet I had not thought to write him a letter of thanks. This was not how “family” members were expected to behave."