Lacassagne steps down as Chivas Brothers CEO

Chivas Brothers boss Laurent Lacassagne has been replaced by Irish Distillers CEO Jean-Christophe Coutures amid a raft of executive staffing changes at French drinks group Pernod Ricard.

Laurent Lacassagne has acted as Chivas Brothers CEO for the past five years

Lacassagne has acted as chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers – Pernod Ricard’s Scotch whisky arm – since 2013, and has worked at Pernod Ricard for the past 30 years.

Conor McQuaid, currently EVP global business development, has been appointed chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers, taking over from Coutures.

Christian Porta, currently chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard EMEA & LATAM, will step into the newly created position of managing director, global business development. CEOs of all brand companies – including The Absolut Company, Chivas Brothers and Irish Distillers – will report to Porta.

Gilles Bogaert, currently managing director in charge of finance, IT and operations, has been named chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard EMEA & LATAM, taking over from Porta.

Hélène de Tissot, currently group strategy and M&A director, will take over Bogaert’s role. Her replacement will be announced at a later date.

All staffing changes on Pernod Ricard’s executive committee will come into effect on 1 July 2018.

In May 2019, Philippe Coutin, currently CEO of Pernod Ricard Rouss and Pernod Ricard Eastern Europe, will take over from Philippe Savinel as chairman and CEO of the Ricard and Pernod companies. Savinel is leaving the post to retire.

Alexandre Ricard, chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard, said of the changes: “Our organisation is a living organism, constantly evolving as it adapts to our consumers and environment.”