Mr Alizadeh at last won a single seat on Valeo's board in May, having asked for two.

ECONOMIST: Business in France

Dr Alizadeh, a graduate of the University of Tehran, is currently working at Ottawa University in Canada on the molecular structure of cement.

ECONOMIST: Bunker-busting

In 2010, Iran-born Hiva Alizadeh, India-born Misbahuddin Ahmed and Montreal native Khurram Sher were arrested on charges of conspiring to facilitate terrorism in Canada and against Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan.

BBC: Viewpoint: Canada no stranger to al-Qaeda