Former Moët Hennessy executive Anu Rao has joined Pernod Ricard as the lead for communications and sustainability in North America.
Rao, who started working for Moet Hennessy in North America on the comm’s side in 2016, left the unit this month to move across to the Martell Cognac brand owner as senior VP of communications, sustainability & responsibility. As well as having responsibility for “internal, external and strategic brand communications” for the regional division, she will also “oversee the company’s sustainability and responsibility efforts” in the region.
Based out of New York, which was also the case with the Hennessy Cognac brand owner, Rao will report in to Pernod Ricard NA CEO Ann Mukherjee.
As well as her six years with Moet Hennessy, the first three of which were on the Belvedere vodka brand, Rao’s agency experience includes work on Bacardi’s namesake rum and Grey Goose vodka as well as with Heineken USA.
Late last year, Pernod Ricard announced plans to spend US$250m on a new production and maturation facility for the Jefferson’s Bourbon brand in Kentucky’s Marion County.
