Latest news with #Gasparovic
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Female champagne exec ‘told she needed 'anti-seduction training for flirting with bosses' and is ‘gagging for it''
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'' Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) 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. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Maria Gasparovic, a former Moët Hennessy exec, was sacked last June Credit: Linkedln 5 Gasparovic claims the comments were made by her then-boss Jean-Marc Lacave (pictured) Credit: 2014 David M. Benett 5 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. 'Devastated' Gregg Wallace FIRED by BBC over MasterChef sexual comments 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. 5 Moët Hennessy denies claims and hit back with lawsuit accusing her of defamation Credit: Alamy 5 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.
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Female champagne exec ‘told she needed 'anti-seduction training for flirting with bosses' and is ‘gagging for it''
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 5 Maria Gasparovic, a former Moët Hennessy exec, was sacked last June Credit: Linkedln 5 Gasparovic claims the comments were made by her then-boss Jean-Marc Lacave (pictured) Credit: 2014 David M. Benett 5 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 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. Read more world news Moët Hennessy — the 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. Most read in The US Sun 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. 'Devastated' Gregg Wallace FIRED by BBC over MasterChef sexual comments 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 '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. 5 Moët Hennessy denies claims and hit back with lawsuit accusing her of defamation Credit: Alamy 5 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 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. Full message from Moët Hennessy CEO to all staff Dear Moët Hennessy teams, You may have seen or heard about an article published by the Financial Times regarding Moët Hennessy. I am deeply disappointed by this not only because it harms our reputation, but above all because the allegations made are unacceptable. I would like to share some context. Maria Gasparovic appears to hold considerable resentment toward Moët Hennessy, driven by personal ambition that led her to believe she could claim a position that did not exist at the time and was eventually not opened due to budgetary constraints. Her behavior, following that decision, changed drastically: she claimed to have been subject to sexist discrimination, she began making comments and sharing posts that can be construed as bullying and these were directed to employees and clients. As a member of the Distribution Executive team she was privy to confidential information and in addition had access to personal information pertaining to colleagues, to which she did not apply the required confidentiality measures. Holding such a position she should have disclosed information regarding her personal situation and personal relations as a conflict of interest, but did not do so. She created an environment that was destructive and Moët Hennessy had no choice but to terminate her contract even if some of the above-mentioned elements and others, like threats of blackmail, were only brought to light subsequently. Instead of challenging her termination in court, she started a press campaign and MH had no choice but to file a libel suit based on these false allegations. In 2025, she finally challenged her termination in court and MH will strongly defend the case. Ultimately, Maria Gasparovic chose to exploit a situation that she herself created - one rooted in her personal agenda and which is now being used in an attempt to justify financial compensation. After her strategy failed, she attempted to invoke whistleblower status, again manipulating the systems that are intended to protect. This behavior, both toward our company and certain colleagues, was clearly at adds with our values. These actions took place outside of any formal oversight and were facilitated by the complacency of a few individuals, and even to the point of intentional support from others. Such conduct cannot be tolerated. This is the reason of her departure. With regard to the place of women in our company, I cannot accept the attacks directed at my predecessor, Philippe Schous, whose behavior was beyond reproach in all interactions. Philippe spent considerable time embedding a vision and values that were in keeping with equity. Philippe was instrumental in appointing women to some key critical roles, that today sit at the COMEX of MH, such as the EVP of Human Resources, the President for Maison Moët, the CFO, and a new Regional President for Asia. Since 2020, we have successfully achieved gender parity at Executive and Manager level rising from 45 to 50% in less than 5 years. He initiated a genuine cultural shift at Moët Hennessy one that has brought greater equity and diversity to our organization. This is a commitment I fully intend to carry forward as President of Moët Hennessy. I will never tolerate such behavior. Like you, I believe in our core values, and I will not accept them being called into question. Seeing these values misrepresented in the press is not only disappointing to me but I know it is also deeply unsettling for all of you who work so hard to uphold them. I share your frustration and concern that the press has failed to accurately and fairly represent events. I understand that these accusations, along with commentary about our culture, may raise concerns. I want to underscore that Moët Hennessy is committed to continuously upholding a positive and supportive environment for all. Jean-Jacques Guiony, President and CEO, Moët Hennessy.
New York Post
10-07-2025
- Business
- New York Post
Former Moët Hennessy exec claims ‘sexist' bosses told her she needed ‘anti-seduction' training: lawsuit
A former executive at Moët Hennessy claims male bosses told her she needed to undergo 'anti-seduction' training before they denied her a promotion — one of numerous complaints of bullying and sex-harassment at the French wine and spirits giant, according to a report. Maria Gasparovic — who had been chief of staff to the LVMH division's global head of distribution Jean-Marc Lacave until she was fired in June 2024 — alleges in a lawsuit that she was subjected to 'unfounded and sexist rumors,' including that she was having an affair with another executive. She further alleges that in a conversation about her stalled promotion, Lacave told her she had been described by a client as 'gagging for it' — a slang British term that describes someone who is eager or desperate for something, often with strong sexual connotations. Reached by The Post, Lacave declined to comment. 4 Jean-Marc Lacave is former global head of distribution at Moët Hennessy. John Sciulli Gasparovic's claims against the drinks division of LVMH — the French luxury conglomerate headed by billionaire Bernard Arnault that also owns Louis Vuitton — were aired on social media and were reported earlier by the Financial Times. Before her dismissal, Gasparovic filed a whistleblower complaint against Moët Hennessy detailing claims of harassment and discrimination. Her subsequent legal complaint claims that no formal investigation was carried out. In a letter notifying her of termination, Moët Hennessy alleged she impersonated another employee during a call while on sick leave and made threatening remarks to colleagues. People close to the company said executives believed she was trying to blackmail the firm. Gasparovic denies all allegations and maintains she followed the whistleblower policy. 'Private life is protected by law in France,' she was quoted as saying by FT. 'Dignity matters, especially for women at work.' Gasparovic also claims that former CEO Philippe Schaus ordered the HR department to investigate her private life, suspecting she was having an affair with another executive. She is not alone. At least four other women at Moët Hennessy's Paris headquarters reported bullying and harassment before leaving, the FT reported. Three filed complaints with the employment tribunal that have since been settled. 4 Moët Hennessy is the high-end wine and spirits division of French luxury conglomerate LVMH. musonurk – A dozen people familiar with Moët Hennessy told the FT that her firing was part of a larger pattern linked to a toxic workplace environment. At least 20 staff at headquarters went on long-term sick leave in 2024. 'Lots of people were going on sick leave, people were disappearing overnight. It took on disruptive proportions.' That prompted some senior leaders to note they had never seen such figures before. Many cited stress and bullying, and several left the company. 'Gossip and rumors were rife at Moët Hennessy,' one source said, while another described the environment as having a 'boys club' mentality. 'Our boss would scream at people like it was a fashion house in the 1990s, except we are in 2025 — that behavior is no longer acceptable,' one source told FT. 4 Former Moët Hennessy CEO Philippe Schaus is alleged to have ordered the HR department to investigate an employee's private life, suspecting she was having an affair with another executive. AP Male staff have also lodged complaints, according to the FT. Following the allegations, Schaus, Lacave, and several executives left LVMH, as did global head of HR Chantal Gaemperle. Moët Hennessy declined to comment to FT on the case but said labor tribunal proceedings are routine in the French system. A person close to the company added that staff going on sick leave is not uncommon and rejected the characterization of Moët Hennessy's culture. The Post has sought comment from Moët Hennessy, Gasparovic and Schaus. When one woman reported rumors about her supposed relationship with a male executive, she said an HR manager told her 'to get used' to it. Every week, Post columnist Miranda Devine sits down for exclusive and candid conversations with the most influential disruptors in Washington. Subscribe here! 'I was told the more you move up in the organization, the more this will happen,' she said. 'Moët Hennessy is the kingdom of rumors.' Moët Hennessy has since filed a defamation lawsuit against Gasparovic over social media posts about the case. A trial is expected this autumn. Gasparovic's partner, former COO Mark Stead — who accompanied her to HR meetings — was also dismissed shortly after her termination. Moët Hennessy accused him of misusing travel and expenses and later filed a legal complaint alleging he shared privileged information with Gasparovic. Stead is now suing the company for wrongful dismissal, claiming retaliation for supporting a whistleblower, the FT reported. 4 The female executive is alleging that her superiors denied her a promotion because she refused to undergo 'anti-seduction' training. Andrei Antipov – In a note to staff in September 2024, Schaus and HR head Paula Fallowfield had acknowledged concerns. 'We assure you that each case has been handled thoughtfully, fairly and in line with a commitment to confidentiality and our values,' they wrote. They warned employees of 'the distress one-sided narratives may cause' and added, 'We are committed to providing a positive working environment . . . Moreover we are also determined to do everything possible to protect the reputation of Moët Hennessy.' In February, Bernard Arnault's son Alexandre and former CFO Jean-Jacques Guiony were installed to turn around the company, which had been LVMH's worst-performing division in 2023. Executives recently told staff the company would cut about 1,200 jobs, or 13% of its workforce, to cope with slowing sales. While the alleged culture issues predate the downturn, some insiders said cost-cutting added pressure to an already difficult environment.
