Pernod Ricard has recruited internally for its next ‘House of Tequila’ division MD.
Last week, the brand owner confirmed to Global Drinks Intel a change of CEO at its Havana Club International joint-venture with the Cuban government. Today, Global Drinks Intel has learned that following Michael Merolli’s switch from the head of tequila operations to the rum division, Tim Croizat (below), the group’s current global strategy portfolio & insights director, will replace him in Mexico.
French national Croizat has worked for Pernod Ricard since 2003, starting off in Australia as the brand manager for spirits & RTD with the company’s unit in the country. Four-and-a-half years in Cuba with Havana Club from 2005 to 2010 was followed by the same length of time (2010 to 2014) in London with the Chivas Brothers scotch whisky unit.
A return to France took place 11 years ago to become the global brand director for champagne mark Perrier-Jouët for four years, after which he was VP of business acceleration & transformation at the Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët division. He took on his current role at the end of 2021.
Pernod Ricard’s tequila stable is home to Olmeca and Olmeca Altos (above) alongside Avión and Código 1530. The brands are joined by mezcals Del Maguey and Ojo de Tigre in the Mexico spirits portfolio along with Almave, an alcohol-free spirit produced from agave that the company bought an unspecified stake in almost exactly a year ago.
None of these brands yet feature in the company’s list of ‘strategic international brands’.
