Pernod Ricard names new Havana Club CEO
Christian Barré has retired and stepped down from his role as chief executive officer of Havana Club, with Michael Merolli, former CEO of House of Tequila, taking his place.
Barré has been with Pernod Ricard since 1997 and previously worked with the French firm as CEO of its Swiss and Mexico operations.
Barré took up the position of Havana Club’s CEO in July 2017, marking nearly eight years at the helm of the Cuban rum brand.
Michael Merolli has stepped up in his place, making the switch from Tequila to rum, having served as CEO of Pernod Ricard’s House of Tequila division for the past five years.
A statement on Barré’s departure from Havana Club said: “After 38 years of dedicated service at Pernod Ricard, Christian Barré retires from his role as CEO of Havana Club International – marking the end of an exceptional career, including nearly eight years at the helm of Havana Club.
“During his tenure, Christian played a pivotal role in establishing Havana Club as the world’s leading super-premium aged rum, growing the brand’s presence to the point where it is now available in more than 125 countries, while championing the legacy of Cuban rum on the global stage.
“Christian is succeeded by Michael Merolli, former CEO of House of Tequila, who brings a proven track record in global brand-building and a clear ambition to lead Havana Club into its next chapter.”
Barré has previously spoken out on the long-running Cuba-US embargo, which restricts the brand from accessing the US, yet accounts 35% of the world’s rum market.
The brand is in the process of applying for a geographical indication (GI) for Cuban rum with the European Union (EU).
Havana Club grew its sales by 1% in fiscal 2025 and was the fifth biggest-selling rum brand in the world, according to The Brand Champions 2025 report.
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