Philippe Schaus

Philippe Schaus (born June 6, 1963) is a Luxembourg-born business executive and engineer.[1] He was the CEO of Moët Hennessy.[2][1][3]

He studied aircraft engineering at the University of Liège from 1982 to 1987, and then completed a business MBA at INSEAD.[1]

In 1992, Schaus joined Villeroy & Boch in Germany as international commercial director, and later joined the board of directors.[1] From 2003 to 2009, he held several positions at Louis Vuitton Malletier, including executive vice president.[1]

He later worked at DFS Group, a subsidiary of the LVMH group in Hong Kong, where he held positions including group president of merchandising and marketing.[1] In 2012, he was named chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the group.[1][4] Since October 2017 and until February 2025 he held that position at Moët Hennessy.[1][3]

According to French media reports from Challenges and La Lettre, he was reportedly singled out for the company's financial results and what is described in the publications as mismanagement of a case of harassment.[5][6] However LVMH did not publicly comment on the reasons for a leadership change.

Schaus was replaced by longtime LVMH CFO, Jean-Jacques Guinoy as President and CEO in February 2025.[7]

Acquisitions as CEO

During his tenure at Moët Hennessy, Schaus oversaw a series of acquisitions which added to the financial weight of the company:

In 2019, Moët Hennessy acquired a controlling stake in Chateau d'Esclans, a leading French rosé wine company.[8]

In early 2021, Moët Hennessy acquired 50% of Armand de Brignac Champagne.[9]

In 2023, Moët Hennessy acquired Chateau Minuty, another French rosé wine company.[10]

Overall Financial Performance during Tenure as CEO

Under Schaus's leadership, Moët Hennessy experienced an overall decline of profitability. When Schaus joined in 2017, the company reported profits of € 1.558 million.[11] Upon his departure in 2024, the company reported profits of € 1.356 million,[12] representing an overall decline of -13% over his 8 years with the company.

Controversy at Moët Hennessy

In May 2025, The Financial Times published an investigative article detailing a significant strategic and financial crisis at Moët Hennessy during Schaus's tenure as CEO. The report cited internal documents and interviews with individuals familiar with the business, highlighting a dramatic reversal in the division's financial position—from generating over €1 billion in cash in 2019 to burning through €1.5 billion by 2024.[13]

Under Schaus's leadership, Moët Hennessy pursued an aggressive strategy of price increases and a nearly €2 billion acquisition spree, that included Armand de Brignac, Jospeh Phelps and provencal wine brand Minuty. Several of these deals were later characterized by insiders as adding "complexity, lowering margins, and draining cash," with few delivering the intended returns.[13]

The article also attributed internal cultural tensions to Schaus, noting that managers were ordered to prioritize profit margins above all else, even as sales declined. A direct-to-consumer retail expansion, including e-commerce initiatives and boutique openings, was described as loss-making and is currently under review by current Moët Hennessy Leadership, according to the Financial Times. Schaus stepped down in early 2025.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Philippe Schaus – Wine and Spirits". LVMH. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  2. ^ Makwana, Riya (2023). "Champagne". Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 23 June 2024 – via EBSCOHost.
  3. ^ a b LVMH. Appoinments LVMH 14 November 2024 https://www.lvmh.com/en/publications/appointments
  4. ^ Zargani, Luisa (17 September 2024). "DFS To Open T Galleria Unit In Venice". WWD: Women's Wear Daily. Vol. 208, no. 58. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  5. ^ Bouleau, Claire (19 November 2024). "LVMH : Pourquoi Alexandre Arnault se retrouve numéro deux de Moët Hennessy". Challenges (in French). Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  6. ^ "LVMH : Philippe Schaus viré de Moët-Hennessy par Bernard Arnault et remplacé par le PDG du cognac Hennessy, LVMH nie". CharenteLibre.fr (in French). 18 October 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2025.
  7. ^ LVMH Appointments (14 November 2024) https://www.lvmh.com/en/publications/appointments
  8. ^ Daniel Marsteller "Shanken News Daily: Moët Hennessy Buys Control of Luxury Rosé Leader Château d'Esclans (2 December 2019)"https://www.winespectator.com/articles/moet-hennessy-buys-control-of-luxury-rose-leader-chateau-d-esclans
  9. ^ Patrick Schmitt "Moët Hennessy partners with Jay-Z through stake in Armand de Brignac Champagne" (23 February 2021)https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2021/02/moet-hennessy-partners-with-jay-z-through-stake-in-armand-de-brignac-champagne/
  10. ^ Elizabeth Gabay "LVMH expands Provence rosé offering by acquiring Château Minuty" (16 February 2023) https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/lvmh-expands-provence-rose-offering-by-acquiring-chateau-minuty-497793/
  11. ^ LVMH "Results Announcement" (25 January 2018) https://www.lvmh.com/en/publications/2017-record-results
  12. ^ LVMH "Full Year 2024 Results" (28 January 2025) https://www.lvmh.com/en/financial-calendar/2024-full-year-results
  13. ^ a b c Adrienne Klasa "Dubious deals, soaring prices and hubris:inside Moet Hennessy's crisis" https://www.ft.com/content/5fdf5c34-cb1d-40da-8e7c-8daca5d84fd3 Financial Times, May 2025
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