BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS: December 2007

Patrick Ricard to step down; Pol Roger reshuffle announced; Ferguson joins Antinori JV

Patrick Ricard to step down
Patrick Ricard, the chairman and chief executive of Pernod Ricard has confirmed that he will step down from all executive roles within the company next autumn. As reported in the db newsletter (07.11.07), Mr Ricard told the company’s annual meeting in Paris that at the 2008 annual meeting his roles would be split; he will become non-executive chairman and Pierre Pringuet, the present managing director, will become chief executive.
  At the meeting Ricard forecast that Pernod Ricard would achieve profits growth of about 10% in the financial year to July 2008. He also
reported that the company’s gearing (ratio of debt to shareholders funds) had fallen “below one”. “This gives us financial leeway”, he said. Significantly, shareholders subsequently approved a resolution that allows the company to issue an extra 20% of shares to help part fund any  takeover it may consider within the next couple of years.

  Asked whether he was considering further takeovers, M Ricard said that the company was “working on two projects”. The first is full ownership of Stolichnaya.
  The second potential takeover was of Absolut vodka. “We have had no details about the process the Swedish government is going to adopt,” M Ricard said. “It has been delayed more than once, but we have a team working on it.” He also told the meeting that “wine is on the back burner for acquisitions.”

Pol Roger reshuffle announced
Bill Gunn mw, after 17 years at the head of Pol Roger UK, has decided to step down as managing director. He will be replaced by Nick James, who is currently UK sales director at the Champagne house. Gunn, however, will not be losing all connection with Pol Roger and will remain a non-executive director of the UK company.
  Further changes at the company include Charles Hamer’s more active involvement. Hamer is a member by marriage of the Pol-Roger family, and joined the board as a non-executive director in July 2006 on the retirement of Christian Pol-Roger. From January 2008 he will have an executive
role with a focus on marketing activities.
  Also, Helen Chesshire has become marketing and PR manager for Pol Roger UK, while James Simpson MW, who has been a director of the company since 1997, has assumed wider executive responsibilities. This will involve overseeing an enlarged sales team for London and South-East England.

Ferguson joins Antinori JV
Peter Ferguson has been appointed international sales and marketing director for Lodovico Antinori’s new venture Campo di Sasso Distribuzione, which incorporates wines from both Italy and New Zealand. Campo di Sasso is a joint venture between the two Antinori brothers Piero and Lodovico.

  Ferguson started his wine-trade career  in a marketing role for Veuve Clicquot, before leaving to join Mentzendorff. At Mentzendorff, he worked on the Robert Mondavi portfolio and was then asked to join the Mondavi team. Ferguson’s next appointment was managing director of MCD UK, the sales and distribution company of Champagne Lanson, before moving back to Californian wine again as european sales director for Jess Jackson’s Wine Estates, where he remained until April 2007. At this point he was approached by Lodovico Antinori and offered the position of international sales and marketing director.

Other news
Andy Lane has become director of travel retail for Ian Macleod Distillers. He was previously director of travel retail at Whyte & Mackay.
  Michael Simpson-Jones has been named as the new spirits buyer at Waitrose. He joined the chain in 2005 and has 12 years retail buying experience. He replaces Giles Fisher, who is now central buyer for beer, spirits and tobacco.
  Peter Lederer, currently MD of Gleneagles, is to become chairman of Gleneagles Hotels Limited. He will replace Nick Rose, Diageo chief financial officer, owner of Gleneagles.
  Christopher Nassetta has been appointed president and chief executive of Hilton Hotels Corporation. He was previously chief executive of Host Hotels & Resorts.
  Rachael Scollen is the new general manager for London’s Carbon Bar. Scollen comes from the Hilton’s Zeta Bar, where she was manager.
  Roy Ackerman has become president of The Academy of Food and Wine, with the intention of raising its profile within the Industry. Ackerman succeeds Lord Thurso, who becomes patron.
  Christopher Cowdray has been named CEO of the Dorchester Collection. He was appointed general manager of The Dorchester hotel in 2004, and was once MD of Claridge’s. 
  Eric Murisasco, cellar master and oenologist for Jean Pierre Moueix at Petrus, will succeed Jean Claude Berrouet, with Berrouet’s son taking the winemaker post at the famous Bordeaux property. Murisasco starts as technical director at the end of December.