Patrick Ricard

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[1] Patrick Ricard (born May 12, 1945) is a French entrepreneur and Chairman and CEO of the liquor & wine group Pernod Ricard.

After studying business in France, Germany and the United States, Patrick Ricard joined the Ricard company, founded by his father Paul Ricard in 1932. He held successive positions in the company’s main departments, becoming Managing Director in 1972. With the creation of Pernod Ricard in 1975 he was appointed Group Managing Director and then, in 1978, Chairman and CEO.

He was the architect of the Group’s ambitious strategy of growth through acquisition, aimed at broadening the product range and accelerating the development of the international business. The strategy proved a resounding success, particularly through the acquisitions of Seagram and Allied Domecq, sales outside France now accounting for 90% of turnover as against 17% when the Group was formed.

Patrick Ricard has announced his intention to leave his post in 2008.

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[edit] Achievements

In 2003, Patrick Ricard was named "Person of the Year 2003" by the French-American Chamber of Commerce in New York.

On July 13, 2007, Ricard was awarded the Légion d'honneur.

[edit] Personal life

Patrick Ricard is married with three children. His interests include hunting and opera. He has received numerous distinctions including that of the Commander of the Legion of Honour and Knight of the National Order of the Merit.

[edit] Absolute Controversy

Following the "In An Absolut World" controversy in 2008, captioned or photoshopped images of Ricard began circulating on the Internet. Typical captions included wording similar to Absolut vodka advertisements, such as "Absolute Connard," and the most widespread photoshopped image showed Ricard as a member of the Wehrmacht, in reference to the Occupation of France by Nazi Germany as a corollary to the controversial Mexican/American advertisement.

[edit] External link

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Persondata
NAME Ricard, Patrick
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION French businessman, Chairman and CEO of the wine & liquor group Pernod Ricard.
DATE OF BIRTH May 12, 1945
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH
Languages