CEO MONTHLY I GLOBAL CEO EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2024 20 Best International Luxury Spirits Brand CEO 2024 (France): Jean-Sébastien Robicquet ince 2001, Maison Villevert has been reinventing classic spirits, enhancing them with a French touch: distinctive round, subtle, and elegant qualities that come from grapes and wine. As a creator, incubator, and independent distributor of premium spirits made from grapes and wine, it brings unique experiences to more than 60 countries from its state-of-the-art production and bottling site near Cognac. This facility meets the highest standards, including ISO 22000, ISO 14001, and Ecocert organic certification. With the capacity to bottle and package both by hand and Jul24605 Jean-Sébastien Robicquet created the pioneering Maison Villevert Group ex nihilo at the turn of the millennium, a venture which has, over the past two decades, kept the guiding values of courage, respect, commitment, and audacious creativity at its heart. Now a flourishing group with 150 employees and 9 subsidiaries, going from vineyards to distilleries to spirits creations to distributions with IMC (in market companies of France, UK, USA, and Mexico), it is generating business in excess of an astonishing €100 million. As Founder and CEO of the company, Jean-Sébastien says his “blue ocean is grapes bring elegance and French signature to spirits categories”. In light of his success within the Global CEO Excellence Awards 2024, we learn more about Jean-Sébastien’s phenomenal career and success. S on a large scale, the company ships millions of bottles worldwide, all with the same uncompromising approach to quality. Maison Villevert’s distribution structures are at the top of their game, including Maison Villevert France Distribution, Paragon Brands in the UK, Maison Villevert North America in the US, and Maison Villevert Mexico in Mexico. By instilling a daily commitment to boldness and audacious creativity, Maison Villevert has truly rocked the international sector with its remarkable creations: G’Vine French gin, the world’s first to be made from grapes and vine flowers; Cîroc, the first vodka made from grapes for Diageo; La Quintinye Vermouth Royal, the best red vermouth in the world; JUNE, the infused gin collection; Excellia tequila, with Mexican authenticity and French expertise; Cognac Grosperrin, prestigious merchant of rare cognacs; La Guilde du Cognac, from artisanal distillers and villages; Celtic Whisky Distillerie, one of France’s leading whisky distilleries; and Anne Bonny™ rum. Jean-Sébastien’s mission is to drive entrepreneurial activity in France by creating and producing globally successful modern premium spirits while staying true to the company values. He states, “My vision is that our spirits are vehicles that raise the profile of French expertise and excellence worldwide. French grapes and wine are at the heart of this innovative sector.” “Our “playing field” is French spirits. So many beautiful things have been created. There’s no point in imitating them. We’re passionate about being innovative and unconventional, and we have a real desire to invent and create new products. And we always take care to question and evaluate what we and others are doing.” As a graduate in oenology and law, Jean-Sébastien’s career has been one dedicated to the world of wine and spirits, having previously worked with Moët Hennessy in Singapore, Hine Cognac, and the Bernard Magrez group in Bordeaux. He enthuses, “The dawn of the 21st century heralded new ideas, and I created my own innovative company. In 2001, I was approached by Diageo, the world leader of spirits, who was keen to create a new premium vodka: French, exceptional, and with a unique character and taste. My expertise led to the creation of the French grape-based vodka, Cîroc, launched in 2003. “Within 10 years, Cîroc came to join the top 10 most prestigious brands in the world (source: IWSC: 2014). In 2006, I created G’Vine In 2022 Jean-Sébastien gathered (L-R) (Wine to Water representative), Dale De Groff, Peter Dorelli, Salvatore Calabrese, Phil Duff and Hidetsugu Ueno in Cognac. Together, they launched a global fundraising campaign across the drinks industry to provide clean water solutions, in tribute to Gaz Regan.
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