A successful career in Wines & Spirits

Manuel has been with Moët & Hennessy, the Wines & Spirits division of LVMH, for almost 19 years. Here, he gives the lowdown on his career and talks about the skills that future leaders should cultivate.

Manuel, can you describe your career path?

I started in strategy consulting, then joined LVMH, and more specifically, champagne Maison Moët & Chandon in 2004 as Special Project Manager, reporting to the CEO. It was a transversal, initiatory role, that allowed me to discover the multiple facets of running a Champagne House. From there, I spent 5 years in Finance and  I became Production Director for Moët & Chandon, which opened my eyes to human issues, like safety, the motivation and development of a team of 400 people working on 5 different sites, interactions with unions, and the strategic workforce planning.

In 2016, I took over the management of our Iberian distribution subsidiary to strengthen the desirability of our brands in Spain and to open a subsidiary in Portugal. It was an exciting time, besides living in Barcelona: in sales, your actions have an immediate effect on the company's bottom line, which gives you a motivating boost of adrenaline.

Back in France, in 2019, I took on the role of General Manager of “Champagne” activity, which involved defining and monitoring industrial and grape supply strategies, M&A, support functions for the various Houses, and representing the Group to the Interprofession. It was a multifaceted job with operational, strategic and political responsibilities. I am now President of Krug, one of the most prestigious Champagne Maison.

I have been fortunate enough to have had such varied and interesting experiences. My career is a fine example of LVMH’s commitment to developing its employees’ career paths.

What advice do you have for talents looking for management roles?

Companies are full of demanding executives who are hardworking, competent, and capable of making fast analysis and impactful presentations. The success of the LVMH group’s brands is partly based on the recognition of the human factor in our businesses.

Indeed, it’s the Soft Skills that make all the difference: empathy, creativity, trust, listening abilities, honesty, being solution-oriented and entrepreneurial, knowing when to take a step back – these are all crucial skills to have. It doesn't matter whether your teams are financial analysts, winegrowers, technicians or salespeople, give them a target, motivate and challenge them, listen to them, respect them and support them. Take care of your teams and they will take care of your company!

Also, the LVMH Group may be decentralized, but as a family-run group with an entrepreneurial spirit, there is still an LVMH “culture” that transcends each of its Maisons. These common denominators include the positive tension between our House’s traditions and their quest for modernity and innovation, the passion for the products we develop and the excellence we seek for our customers, and, perhaps most importantly, our desire to have a positive impact on society. These are key elements to keep in mind when starting out at LVMH.

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