Bart Becht, chief executive of Reckitt Benckiser, yesterday steered the world’s biggest household cleaning products group to a record fourth-quarter performance.

The 49-year-old Dutchman also set new profit and sales targets for the company, which counts Cillit Bang cleaner, Lysol disinfectants and Mr Sheen polish among its range of products.

Unlike many of his fellow FTSE 100 chief executives, Mr Becht, who is said to have a dry sense of humour, keeps a low-profile — insisting that the company is not about one man alone. However, he says that he likes to do the cleaning at home, where he uses at least 20 of Reckitt’s products including Finish dishwashing detergent and Dettol kitchen cleaner.

He says: “Most people would think household cleaning is very dull, but I do not, or I would not be working for Reckitt Benckiser. Some of us think it is very exciting, as we bring you innovative products that help you live your life.”

Mr Becht joined Benckiser in 1988 and did stints in Canada, France and Italy before being appointed chief executive of Benckiser Detergents, and then subsequently of Benckiser in 1995.

Following the company’s merger in December 1999 with Reckitt & Colman, he was named chief executive of the new entity. Mr Becht previously worked with Procter & Gamble, both in the US and Germany.