Biographies

Bernard de Nonancourt

Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Champagne

Bernard de Nonancourt has been actively involved in the world of Champagne his whole life, having grown up, worked, fought and lived in it since he was a child. His ardent and courageous entrepreneurial spirit and the will to build a team that would focus on creating a unique brand were the impulse that took the company from the 100th place worldwide in 1949 to being among the top five today.

It was Bernard’s mother, Marie-Louise Lanson de Nonancourt, who, in 1938, purchased a Champagne house that was insignificant at the time but had great potential. Bernard’s older brother Maurice was supposed to take over, but was killed in a concentration camp, as he and Bernard were involved in the French Resistance movement. Many of Bernard’s accomplishments and experiences are recounted in Wine & War, a book written by Don and Petie Kladstrup.

Bernard studied at the École Supérieure de Commerce in Reims and spent several years training at several Champagne houses—including Lanson, which was owned by the family—to learn the business inside out. He eventually took the reins of the family business in 1949.

Today, as Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Laurent-Perrier Champagne, Bernard de Nonancourt oversees long-term company strategy. He also administers a number of other companies, is a member of several groups and organizations in the world of business and hospitality. Now he is looking towards his two daughters, Alexandra and Stéphanie, who will one day lead Laurent-Perrier into the future.

Stéphane Tsassis

Chairman of the Management Board

Stéphane Tsassis was appointed Chairman of the Management Board on January 1, 2009.

Father of three, Stéphane Tsassis (42) is a graduate of the Institut Supérieur de Gestion, the Manhattan Institute of Management in New York and of the International Management University of Asia in Tokyo.

Most of his career to date has been in the fragrance sector and it was here, over a period of 17 years, that he acquired wide-ranging experience in the world of these luxury products.

From 1992 to 1996, he was Area Manager in the UK and Ireland for Sanofi Beauté (Yves Saint Laurent, Parfums Van Cleef & Arpels, Oscar de la Renta, Roger & Gallet).

From 1996 to 2000, he managed the Jean Paul Gaultier Parfums and Issey Miyake fragrance brands, first as Regional Manager, Asia, then as head of Travel Retail International. In 2000 he moved to Maison Guerlain, initially as Director for France and Europe, and then, from 2002 to 2005, as International Director and a member of the Executive Committee.

From July 2005 and until he returned to France to join Laurent-Perrier, he was Chairman of Guerlain’s Japanese subsidiary and a member of the Guerlain Executive Committee. During this period, following a drive to enhance the Guerlain brand image, sales and distribution improved, market share grew, and the profitability of the Japanese subsidiary increased.

Alexandra Pereyre de Nonancourt and Stéphanie Meneux de Nonancourt

Alexandra and Stéphanie, the two daughters of Bernard de Nonancourt, hold the future of Laurent-Perrier.

Raised in Tours-sur-Marne, home of Champagne Laurent-Perrier, the siblings have been exposed to the champagne industry since childhood.

Before joining the family company, each acquired real world work experience. Today, they are members of the Management Board and of the Image Committee.

After graduating with a degree in interior designer, Alexandra started her professional career working in a prestigious design house in Paris and was Artistic Consultant at Paco Rabanne from 1985 to 1987.

Soon after, her father entrusted her with the development of promotional commercial tools for the champagne House. It was in 1990 at Laurent-Perrier UK that she had her first experience of working abroad, as well as training in marketing.

After returning to France in 1992, she took charge of the company’s brand image—a position she has held for more than 13 years.

Stéphanie’s background is in communication. Passionate about the world of art, she pursued a career in PR and marketing at Sotheby’s in London and Paris.

In 1995, she decided to bring her experience to Laurent-Perrier, setting up its PR and Press Department. She also organized the first themed-parties for Cuvée Rosé Brut and Laurent-Perrier Ultra Brut.

The two sisters are fully involved in far-reaching events, concentrating particularly on the strategy and development of the House. Slated to assume ownership of the Champagne house, both defend its values and independent spirit. They also represent the majority shareholders and are behind the inspiration for the company’s active strategy.

Yves Dumont

Chairman of Laurent-Perrier Développement

Yves Dumont joined Laurent-Perrier in June 1997 as Chairman of the Management Board. He has brought great expertise to Laurent-Perrier in the area of international business and brands’ building. He has a rigorous approach to business and team’s management.

A graduate of France’s renowned business school HEC (Hautes Etudes Commerciales), he is a former CEO of Tropicana Europe of the Seagram Group (1990-1995) and former CEO of Green Giant Europe (1984-1990). He also held several management positions with Biscuits Belin - Nabisco (1973-1979) and Unilever where he first started his career.

Yves Dumont created Laurent-Perrier’s subsidiaries in the United States and Belgium after recognising the great potential of these two markets.

He also set up the IPO for Laurent-Perrier in June 1999 and restructured the distribution’s strategy of the company.

Yves Dumont is a member of the of the Champagne House Union Council (UMC) and a dignitary of the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne, the oldest Champagne fraternity, of which he was Commandeur from 2003 to 2005.

In January 2009 Yves Dumont was appointed Chairman of Laurent-Perrier Développement, where he will provide Group development and strategic direction advisory and assistance services. He will also monitor Laurent-Perrier’s relations within the profession and its trade bodies.

Michel Fauconnet

Cellar Master

Michel Fauconnet first joined Laurent-Perrier in August 1973 gaining work experience in the cellars after having earned a certificate in agricultural engineering at the Agricultural College of Rethel (in the Ardennes region). He has acquired his expertise directly in the field.

His professional progress in production, where he is familiar with all the jobs from performing them first hand, led him to become Production Director and ‘Chef de Cave’, i.e. Laurent-Perrier’s Cellar Master, a position he has held since February 2004.

Mr. Fauconnet climbed the ladder at Laurent-Perrier first as a manual worker from 1974 to 1976 and then as part of the technical staff after being promoted in 1980. A year later, he received the accolade of ‘Chef de Cercle’ and was responsible for Laurent-Perrier’s winery including the fermentation processes of all wines.

Michel took over for the Executive Deputy, Alain Terrier, who retired after 30 years. Working side by side for more than 20 years, they created pleasurable wines based on solid know-how and building strong relationships with grape-growers.

Michel Fauconnet has spent his entire working life at Laurent-Perrier and is dedicated to the company with whom he shares a passion for champagne and family values. Fond of most sports and especially soccer, he has played at the top level at Reims Stadium in the heart of the Champagne Region. He is a thorough man with a strong personality and has won the respect of both the grape growers and the Champagne community.