Female champagne exec ‘told she needed 'anti-seduction training for flirting with bosses' and is ‘gagging for it''

Scottish Sun

11-07-2025

The firm's former COO is reportedly in a relationship with her
SEXISM FURY Female champagne exec 'told she needed 'anti-seduction training for flirting with bosses' and is 'gagging for it''
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A FEMALE exec at a luxury champagne firm was allegedly told she needed 'anti-seduction' training and was 'gagging for it' to land a promotion.
Maria Gasparovic is accusing French drinks powerhouse Moët Hennessy of sexual harassment, gender discrimination and unfair dismissal in a £1.1million lawsuit.
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Maria Gasparovic, a former Moët Hennessy exec, was sacked last June
Credit: Linkedln
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Gasparovic claims the comments were made by her then-boss Jean-Marc Lacave (pictured)
Credit: 2014 David M. Benett
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Moët Hennessy — the elite drinks arm of luxury conglomerate LVMH - owns brand like the iconic Moët Chandon champagne
Credit: Alamy
Gasparovic was former chief of staff to the firm's global head of distribution Jean-Marc Lacave, and was fired in June last year.
According to a Financial Times bombshell article, Gasparovic claims the comments were made by Lacave himself.
These include allegations that she missed out on a promotion because a client had described her as 'gagging for it', and that she should undergo 'anti-seduction coaching' to move up the corporate ladder.
She is seeking €1.3 million (around £1.1m) in damages and compensation through France's employment tribunal system.
Moët Hennessy — the elite drinks arm of luxury conglomerate LVMH — has strenuously denied the allegations and hit back with its own lawsuit, accusing Gasparovic of defamation after she aired the accusations on social media.
Those posts have since been taken down, and a defamation trial is reportedly set for autumn.
An LVMH spokesperson has shared with The Sun the full letter from Moët Hennessy's CEO Jean-Jacques Guiony to all members of staff.
In it, Mr Guiony addressed the recent allegations regarding the company's treatment of women and its culture.
He claims Gasparovic's contract was terminated due to her "destructive behavior", and she subsequently launched a press campaign, leading Moët Hennessy to file a libel suit.
The letter claims that Gasparovic's actions were a manipulative attempt to gain financial compensation and invoke whistleblower status after her initial strategy failed.
Mr Guiony went on to emphasise his commitment to continuing this positive cultural shift and upholding a supportive environment at Moët Hennessy.
The Sun has also asked LVMH for a comment on the matter.
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In her termination letter, cited by the FT, the company claimed she impersonated a colleague on a call while on sick leave and made threats to other staff — charges she flatly denies.
Before her dismissal, Gasparovic had submitted a whistleblower report, alleging harassment and discrimination at the Paris HQ.
But according to her legal complaint, the company failed to launch a formal investigation into her claims.
The New York Post reports that Gasparovic further alleges Moët's then-CEO Philippe Schaus ordered HR to dig into her personal life, believing she was having an affair with a colleague — a claim she says was part of a broader 'boys club' atmosphere.
'Private life is protected by law in France,' she told the FT.
'Dignity matters, especially for women at work.'
The lawsuit has dragged Moët Hennessy into a bubbling scandal just as it's grappling with broader turbulence.
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Moët Hennessy denies claims and hit back with lawsuit accusing her of defamation
Credit: Alamy
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Moët's former COO Mark Stead — who is reportedly in a relationship with Gasparovic — was fired shortly after accompanying her to HR meetings.
Credit: Linkedln
A dozen insiders reportedly told the FT the workplace culture had become toxic — with bullying, burnout and staff 'disappearing overnight' on sick leave.
At least 20 employees were signed off long-term in 2024 alone, according to the Daily Mail.
One anonymous source reportedly said bosses would 'scream at people like it was a fashion house in the 1990s — except we are in 2025. That behaviour is no longer acceptable.'
Several other women have reportedly left the company after facing similar treatment. At least four former female staffers accused Moët of harassment and bullying before exiting, three of whom later settled employment tribunal claims, according to the FT.
In one case, after a female employee told HR that false rumours were circulating about her sleeping with a male exec to advance her career, she was allegedly told simply to 'get used to it'.
Even Moët's former COO Mark Stead — who is reportedly in a relationship with Gasparovic — was fired shortly after accompanying her to HR meetings.
He was accused of misusing company expenses, though his supporters suspect retaliation, according to Daily Mail.
The case is expected to go before a French employment tribunal later this year.