Pernod Ricard Sustainability Executives: 5 Things to Know About Key Wine and Spirits Leaders

Wine and spirits company Pernod Ricard -- maker of Absolut vodka and other well-known brands -- has named Maria Pia De Caro to an expanded executive position, and promoted Noemie Bauer to chief sustainability officer (CSO).

Here are five things to know about Pernod Ricard's sustainability strategy, and key focus areas of Maria Pia De Caro and Noemie Bauer.

1. Business Scope and Scale: Pernod Ricard, founded in 1975, is based in Paris, France. The company's key brands include Absolut vodka, Chivas Regal, Beefeater gin and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, among many others. Sales were €12.137 billion (US$13.2 billion) in fiscal year 2023, up 13% from fiscal year 2022.

2. Sustainability Strategy: Pernod Ricard's five environmental commitments include...

• Promote and build resilient agricultural practices.
• Preserve and enhance biodiversity.
• Contribute to reducing climate change.
• Preserve water resources.
• Move toward circularity.

The company is striving to reduce the intensity of its carbon footprint by 2030, and is pursuing a net zero trajectory by 2050. Pernod Ricard has reduced its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 12% since fiscal year 2018, and also reduced its Scope 3 emissions by 18% in intensity, the company said.

3. Expanded Executive Role: Maria Pia De Caro, most recently EVP of operations and member of the group’s Executive Committee, expands her focus to include the group’s corporate social responsibility. Her title therefore expands to be EVP, integrated operations and sustainability & responsibility (S&R). 

De Caro joined Pernod Ricard in January 2023. She previously was executive VP and chief supply chain officer for Nomad Foods. Earlier, she was VP of home care supply chain at Unilever.

4. New Chief Sustainability Officer: Meanwhile, sustainability business leader Noemie Bauer shifts to chief sustainability officer (CSO), reporting to De Caro. Bauer oversees the strategic direction and global implementation of the Group’s Sustainability & Responsibility roadmap. Moreover, she leads a team of sustainability specialists across climate action, regenerative agriculture, water stewardship, circularity, social sustainability, reporting and engagement, the company said.

Bauer joined Pernod Ricard in 2011. Her previous roles included sustainable business director and CSR & public affairs manager for the Americas.

5. Executive Perspectives: In a prepared statement, De Caro said: “Today one can’t lead a global operations team without sustainability being front of mind. It is part of the way we do things at Pernod Ricard, that constant strive to have a positive impact on people and our planet. I am incredibly honoured to now hold these responsibilities on the Executive Committee of Pernod Ricard as EVP Integrated Operations and S&R and am very excited about what we will achieve together, both, at Pernod Ricard and within the wider industry.”

Pernod Ricard Sustainability Executives: Why Technology Partners Should Care

By 2027, 25% of Global 2000 companies will have assigned a chief sustainability officer (CSO) responsible for meeting their organization’s ESG goals and making ESG-related IT purchasing decisions, according to IDC.

The bottom line: Technology partners need to extend their sales, marketing, engagement and support strategies to successfully fulfill those CSO customer needs, Sustainable Tech Partner believes.