LVMH Shakes Up Wines and Spirits Division

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It’s all change at the wines and spirits division of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.

Jean-Jacques Guiony, the French luxury giant’s longtime chief financial officer, is to become president and chief executive officer of the division, known as Moët Hennessy, with Alexandre Arnault joining him as deputy CEO.

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Since 2021, Arnault has been executive vice president of product, communication and industrial at Tiffany & Co. in New York, ramping up the American jeweler’s profile with attention-getting campaigns, buzzy ambassadors and new product ranges like its hit Lock line.

His successor at Tiffany has yet to be named.

Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH, revealed the shakeup early Thursday, also appointing Charles Delapalme, previously managing director at Christian Dior Couture, as president and CEO of Hennessy. A 19-year veteran of the group who has worked in senior retail and wholesale executive roles at Louis Vuitton and Fendi, his start date was not specified.

Guiony succeeds Philippe Schaus, who was been with LVMH for 21 years in various roles. Before Moët Hennessy, Schaus helmed travel retail operator DFS Group, and he has also worked at flagship brand Louis Vuitton, including a stint as president of the brand in Europe.

According to LVMH, Schaus “has decided to begin a new chapter in his career, focusing on nonexecutive roles. He will, in particular, support the new team during the first half of 2025, sharing his responsibilities in the sector.”

Not only a wiz with figures, Guiony is a wine aficionado with specialist knowledge, having quietly served as chairman of Vins d’Exception at LVMH, which includes the estates Clos des Lambrays, Château d’Yquem, Château Cheval Blanc and Colgin Cellars.

Guiony added president of Paris Match earlier this year to his portfolio of titles, which also includes chairman and CEO of Samaritaine Paris.

At Hennessy, billed as the world’s largest cognac brand, Delapalme succeeds Laurent Boillot, who will remain for a transition period and his “new responsibilities will be announced at a later date.”

The flurry of appointments underscores the French group’s deep bench of management talent, and preference to promote from within.

It also continues a tradition of management tandems between trusted LVMH veterans and Bernard Arnault’s five children, all of whom work at the luxury group.