Moët Hennessy CEO becomes Vinexpo president

Moët Hennessy CEO Christophe Navarre has taken over from Xavier de Eizaguirre as president of Vinexpo’s supervisory board.

Christophe Navarre joined the LVMH Group in 1997, taking charge of Hennessy & Co. In May 2001 he was appointed president and CEO of Moët-Hennessy.

Navarre, aged 58, was appointed to the role last week at a general meeting of Vinexpo shareholders, where it was decided he should replace Xavier de Eizaguirre, who has completed his term as president of Vinexpo’s board.

Navarre also becomes president of the supervisory board of Vinexpo Overseas, the group subsidiary that manages Vinexpo’s international operations.

According to Vinexpo, Navarre’s arrival represents a key milestone in the company’s development in France and internationally, both due to his experience at the head of Moët Hennessy since 2001, and his in-depth knowledge of the major global wine and spirits markets.

“Appointing a professional of Christophe Navarre’s calibre as president of the supervisory board reflects Vinexpo’s ambitions to take its skills and expertise to ever higher levels,” said Patrick Seguin, president of the management board, and Guillaume Deglise, CEO of Vinexpo.

“For more than thirty years the Vinexpo brand has successfully promoted the wine and spirits sector in general – and French exports in particular. I’m delighted to contribute to its development, working alongside the management board,” stated Christophe Navarre.

Two other leading figures from the wine and spirits sector are also joining Vinexpo’s supervisory board: Philippe Castéja, president of Borie-Manoux and of the Conseil des Crus Classés 1855, and Philippe Guigal from Rhône producer E. Guigal.

Among his other official commitments, Navarre is also a board member of the Comité Colbert and a member of the Heineken Advisory Board. His term of office as president of the Fédération des Exportateurs de Vins et Spiritueux (FEVS) expires on 12 April 2017.