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Pernod Ricard North America CEO steps down

Paul Duffy, the chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America, will leave the French company next month.

Paul Duffy will leave Pernod Ricard on 2 December

Duffy will leave Pernod Ricard, the owner of brands such as Absolut vodka and Jameson Irish whiskey, to “return to Ireland”. He will also leave the group’s executive committee.

He will be replaced by Ann Mukherjee, the current chief commercial officer of household supplies manufacturer SC Johnson & Son, on 2 December.

Duffy joined Pernod Ricard in 1994 as assistant finance director of the treasury/planning team at Irish Distillers. He has held a number of roles over the years including finance director, managing director of Pernod Ricard UK, and chairman and CEO of Irish Distillers.

Duffy helped to accelerate the growth of Jameson Irish whiskey, particularly in the US, where he served as managing director of Pernod Ricard USA from 2008 to 2012. He also held the position of chairman and CEO of the Absolut Company.

Alexandre Ricard, chairman and CEO 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.

“We wish him the best for his return to Ireland. 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.”

Executive committee changes

Bruno Rain will retire from his role as chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Winemakers on 2 December after 32 years at the French firm. Rain joined the firm in 1987 as an internal auditor and moved into CEO roles for the company’s Argentina and Spain subsidiaries.

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

“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.”

Rain will be replaced by Bryan Fry, the current managing director of Pernod Ricard Pacific since 2016. Fry joined the group in 2006 as vice president, marketing of Pernod Ricard Asia before becoming president and CEO of the company’s Brazil unit in 2009. He became CEO of Pernod Ricard USA in 2012.

Fry will report to Christian Porta, group managing director of global business development, and will become a member of Pernod Ricard’s executive committee.

In his new position, Fry’s first task will be to “create the conditions to accelerate the growth of [Pernod Ricard’s] wine business and its long-term profitability”.

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