O’Flynn to leave Pernod Ricard UK

Pernod Ricard UK has announced that its managing director, Denis O’Flynn, has decided to leave at the end of September.

O’Flynn said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed the last five years at Pernod Ricard UK. Working with a great team, I am proud of our continued progress in both the on and off trade and our increased market share as well as the consolidation of our company strategy ‘Shaping the Nation’s Drinking Experiences’. I am also honoured to have been the chairman of the WSTA and to get to know so many people through the last few important years for the UK drinks industry.

“My decision to leave is the right one for me and my family and I am delighted to be returning to Dublin to be with them. I leave a great team at Pernod Ricard UK who will take the business to the next level”.

Laurent Pillet (pictured), currently CEO of Pernod Ricard, Sub-Saharan Africa, will replace O’Flynn as PRUK managing director. He will report to Christian Porta, chairman & CEO of Pernod Ricard EMEA & LATAM.

In a separate statement Pernod has rung some more changes.

Paul-Robert Bouhier, managing director of Pernod Ricard Singapore-Thailand-Cambodia and emerging markets, will take over as managing director of Pernod Ricard Sub-Saharan Africa, replacing Pillet. Bouhier will become a member of the EMEA & LATAM CER, reporting to Porta.

Cedric Retailleau, MD of Pernod Ricard Italia and Pernod Ricard Southern Europe, will succeed Bouhier as MD of Pernod Ricard Singapore-Thailand-Cambodia & other SEA. Retailleau will report to Philippe Guettat, chairman & CEO of Pernod Ricard Asia, also becoming a member of the Asian Executive Committee (AEC).

Albena Trifonova, Pernod Ricard EMEA business development director, will replace Retailleau as MD of Pernod Ricard Italia and Pernod Ricard Southern Europe. She will be replaced by Christophe Lemarié, MD of Pernod Ricard Hellas. Both Trifonova and Lemarié will report to Porta and will be members of the EMEA & LATAM CER.

Reporting to Albena Trifonova, the new MD of Pernod Ricard Hellas will be Cyril Claquin, currently marketing director of Pernod Ricard Rouss and Pernod Ricard Eastern Europe, who will be replaced by Paul-André Vacheron, director of strategic planning at Pernod Ricard Rouss. Vacheron will report to Philippe Coutin, managing director of Pernod Ricard Rouss and Pernod Ricard Eastern Europe, and will be a member of the executive team.

Eric Geffray, Pernod Ricard EMEA business development projects director, will become MD of Pernod Ricard Norway, reporting to Fabrice Audan, MD of Pernod Ricard Sweden and Pernod Ricard Northern Europe, and will be a member of the executive team.

Michael Merolli, the current MD of Pernod Ricard Norway, is heading to Asia to become marketing director of Pernod Ricard China, and will be reporting in the executive team to Jean-Etienne Gourgues, MD of Pernod Ricard China.

Pernod Ricard also has a new executive, joining from an outside company: with effect from July 18, Yuan Meng, is succeeding Angel Li as human resources vice president of Pernod Ricard China, reporting to Jean-Etienne Gourgues, MD. Meng will be a member of the Executive Team.

HQ & REGIONS

The following moves will take effect as July 1:

Hélène de Tissot, currently VP finance, Pernod Ricard Asia, will become group strategy and M&A director at Pernod Ricard HQ, reporting to Gilles Bogaert, MD finance & operations, and replacing Victor Jerez, whose new role will be announced later.

De Tissot will be replaced by Ludovic Ledru, currently Pernod Ricard Winemakers’ chief financial officer. Ledru will report to Philippe Guettat, chairman & CEO of Pernod Ricard Asia, and will become a member of the Asia Executive Committee (AEC).

Julien Proglio, strategy and M&A manager at Pernod Ricard HQ, is appointed CFO of Pernod Ricard Winemakers, reporting to Bruno Rain, CEO of Pernod Ricard Winemakers, and will become a member of the Pernod Ricard Winemakers’ executive team.