Pernod Ricard chief executives to step down

The chief executives of Pernod Ricard Winemakers and Pernod Ricard’s North American business will step down from their roles next month.

Alexandre Ricard, Pernod Ricard’s chairman and CEO, thanked Rain and Duffy for their decades of service with the spirits group. 

Paul Duffy, chairman & chief executive officer of Pernod Ricard in North America, will resign from his post next month.

Duffy, who joined Pernod Ricard in 1994 as assistant finance director of the treasury/planning Team at Irish Distillers Limited, is leaving his role to “return to Ireland”, according to a statement from the spirits giant.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and chief executive of Pernod Ricard, said Paul will be remembered as “one of our management team members who accompanied the growth of our Group over the last 25 years.”

He will be replaced by Ann Mukherjee, currently Chief commercial officer of S. C. Johnson & Son, a global family manufacturer of household and professional products.

Ricard said: “I am very pleased to welcome Ann to our Executive Committee. Her comprehensive marketing and commercial expertise will not only undoubtedly contribute to furthering the transformation of our ever-more consumer-oriented company, but to achieving our first and foremost objective: to accelerate our growth in our number one market, the United States.”

As well as this, chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Winemakers, Bruno Rain, is retiring after 32 years with the group.

Bryan Fry, currently managing director of Pernod Ricard Pacific, has been appointed CEO of Pernod Ricard’s wine business, and will replace Rain on 2 December.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bruno for his commitment and contribution to the Group over the past 32 years,” Ricard said.

“He has played a key role in the Group’s development, both in senior positions at Group Headquarters and leading Market and Brand Companies. We wish him every success in his future endeavours.”