Pernod Ricard India MD steps down due to health reasons

Pernod Ricard announced on Friday that its South Asia and India managing director Thibault Cuny has stepped down owing to health reasons. Philippe Guettat, chairman and chief executive of Pernod Ricard Asia, will hold charge of Pernod Ricard South Asia, including India operations in the interim.

The company said in a statement that it has begun the process to identify a successor to head Pernod Ricard India, and that a formal announcement regarding the appointment will be made in due course.

The development comes in the midst of the spirits giant facing multiple regulatory and legal battles in the country.

“Cuny has been dealing with health concerns over the past couple of years and his decision to take a break from his professional duties is based on medical advice. He will continue to be employed at Pernod Ricard,” the company said in a statement.

Cuny took over as managing director of Pernod Ricard South Asia in 2019 and has been with the group in various leadership roles for almost two decades, the statement said.

Pernod Ricard, the world’s second largest wine and spirits company, makes Absolut Vodka, Ballantine’s and Chivas Regal. The India unit, a fully owned subsidiary of Pernod Ricard South Asia. operates through two distilleries in Maharashtra and Rajasthan.