Marie Brizard appoints interim CEO

Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits (MBWS) has appointed its current chairman Benoît Hérault to the role of CEO on a temporary basis after the group “ended” the tenure of Jean-Noël Reynaud.

MBWS’s chairman of the board Benoît Hérault has been appointed as interim CEO

In his new position, Hérault will work with the executive committee, and in particular Stéphane Laugery, who has been promoted to the position of deputy chief executive officer, in charge of the organisation of the group.

The company has also hired a recruitment agency to help find a permanent CEO for the group, who will be responsible for creating a new strategic plan.

The board of directors said it “gratefully acknowledges” Reynaud’s investment, and the work he has accomplished since he joined the company in May 2014.

During his time at the company, Reynaud was involved in the management of the group’s rationalisation and optimisation processes, and the structuring of the management teams.

Hérault and the executive committee will continue to fulfil the roadmap and action plans during 2018 and MBWS’s transition process.

Last month, MBWS saw its 2017 full-year net sales slip 0.4% to €428.9 million (US$531.8m), impacted by “significant difficulties” in its Polish business.