Allegations of a "toxic" workplace culture, where a "boys' club mentality" ruled at Moët Hennessy have emerged raising fresh questions over the management structure in place at the company's Paris headquarters.
The recent sacking of a chief of staff at Moët Hennessy, the drinks division of the LVMH group, who had accused senior staff of sexual harassment, gender discrimination and unfair dismissal, has now prompted a dozen people linked to the company to denounce "an environment that allowed bullying and mismanagement" to flourish.
The fresh allegations were reported in the Financial Times (FT) on July 10, and have since been reported on internationally.
According to the FT, at least 20 staff at the business's headquarters went on long-term sick leave in 2024, leading some executives to comment in a senior leadership meeting that they had never seen such numbers before.
At least one company executive is alleged to have launched an investigation into the private life of an employee.
"Many of the employees had complained of stress and bullying, several subsequently left the business. Gossip and rumors were rife at Moët Hennessy, while a 'boys' club' mentality was common, the FT said.
Whistleblower Maria Gasparovic, a former chief of staff to LVMH's wine and spirits business's global head of distribution Jean-Marc Lacave, was fired in June 2024, four months after alerting her managers and human resources department to alleged misconduct by more senior colleagues.
Former chief operating officer Mark Stead, who is in a relationship with Gasparovic and accompanied her to meetings with HR to complain about her situation, was dismissed shortly after her on the grounds that he had misused travel and expenses resources. He is alleged to have breached a non-disclosure agreement.
At least four other female employees at the Paris headquarters had reported bullying and harassment before leaving the group, the report said.
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