Pernod Ricard has strengthened its focus on China, Global Drinks Intel has learned, parachuting the current head of its Northern Europe region into the country on a secondment basis.
Julien Hémard (below), who has been CEO of Pernod Ricard Northern Europe since mid-2023, has assumed the same role at Pernod Ricard China today (1 April), the brand owner has announced internally. The executive will hold the role on a “15-month assignment” and will be joined by the CEO of Pernod Ricard Japan, Tracey Kwan, as deputy CEO, also for 15 months.
Incumbent Jérôme Cottin-Bizonne, who has been with the group for almost 28 years, the last five of which have been in China, will have his next steps “communicated at a later stage”.
A spokesperson for the company confirmed the moves when contacted by Global Drinks Intel.
Hémard, who is also MD of the Germany business unit, celebrates his 20th anniversary with Pernod Ricard this year and was deputy MD of its operations in China from 2007 to 2010. He will be replaced as Northern Europe head by Julia Massies, who will assume the role alongside her current responsibilities as MD of the UK division.
“I take the baton proudly from Julien Hemard, who leaves a legacy of great work, fun and leadership … ,” Massies wrote in a LinkedIn post today. “I’m looking forward to working with the teams across the 16 markets to continue driving growth.”
In results from the six months to the end of December, reported in mid-February, China delivered a 28% year-on-year plunge in sales as “persistent macro-economic and consumer sentiment weakness” combined with a “tightened regulatory environment [that has been] impacting [the] high-end on-trade” in the country.
