Rémy Martin names new CEO

Rémy Cointreau has confirmed the appointment of Eric Vallat as CEO for its Rémy Martin Cognac brand, following the resignation of Patrick Piana last week.

Eric Vallat, new CEO at Rémy Martin

This morning the group confirmed that, starting today, Vallat “will assume overall responsibility for the House of Rémy Martin, which he will continue to position as an ambassador of high-end French craftsmanship, drawing on his expertise, the talent of his teams and the Rémy Cointreau network.”

A graduate of HEC business school in Paris, Vallat started a career in investment banking before joining luxury fashion group Louis Vuitton, becoming its managing director for first France and then Europe. In 2004 he became chairman and representative director for Christian Dior Japan.

Since returning to Paris in 2008, Vallat has been chairman of children’s clothing brand Bonpoint and in 2009 became managing director of French shoemaker JM Weston.

His arrival at Rémy Cointreau comes at a time of major reshuffling within the group as its results continue to be hit by a slowdown in China. In addition to the departure of Piana last week, Rémy Cointreau CEO Frédéric Pflanz resigned at the beginning of January after just three months in the role.

Rémy Cointreau said that Vallat “will continue the Group’s policy of adding value and maintaining the reputation for quality of the Rémy Martin and Louis XIII brands, which is consistent with evolving worldwide consumption patterns.”