Vitalie to take over at Taittinger

Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger has handed the presidency of his family’s eponymous Champagne house to his daughter Vitalie.

Her tenure will officially begin on 31 December this year and she will be supported by her brother Clovis, who has been promoted to general manager, as well as the management committee.

Pierre-Emmanuel said he could hand over the reins of the company “secure in a sense of accomplishment”.

Current general manager Damien le Sueur will work with both Vitalie and Clovis, “ensuring coordination between vineyards, supplies, and production, business and finance departments. Clovis Taittinger will be in charge of the sales and marketing department.”

Pierre-Emmanuel said: “I have dedicated more than 45 years of my life to Champagne and the House that bears our name and our history. These last 13 years have undoubtedly been the most effervescent, the most exhilarating of my career at Taittinger. In every possible way, I have been instrumental in ensuring the quality of our wines, whose consistency is a source of great joy to me. The results are beyond all expectations and Taittinger has never been so ‘Champagne’, true to the values I uphold.

“I can hand over the reins, secure in a sense of accomplishment: a passionate team in whom I have complete confidence, very fine wines, a large and growing number of fans of our brand in more than 140 countries around the world. Taittinger holds a genuine potential for development and now more than ever reflects the authenticity and excellence of our culture and heritage.”

Vitalie added: “My Father, through his passion and boundless commitment over the last thirteen years, has built up a solid organization devoted to a very fine patrimonial and human project. We owe him the independence so fundamental to the identity of our House.

“Thanks to him and to the work of all concerned, Taittinger has grown considerably with an ever-increasing attention to the quality of our wines, the preservation of our environment, the respect of our partners and our customers… with always this touch of impertinence and audacity, just like the one that led us to go and plant vines at Domaine Evremond in Kent!

“With the support of Damien le Sueur, my brother Clovis and all our teams, we will carry on down this path. I am honoured by the trust placed in me and my wish is to see our House shine every day, for our employees, customers and partners.”