Moët Hennessy, the €6 billion drinks division of luxury giant LVMH, is embroiled in a high-profile sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and unfair dismissal lawsuit that former employees say reveals deeper cultural issues within the company. The case centers on Maria Gasparovic, the former chief of staff to the global head of distribution, Jean-Marc Lacave, who was dismissed in June 2023, four months after raising concerns about misconduct by senior colleagues.
Gasparovic’s suit, filed at a Paris employment tribunal where she is seeking €1.3 million in damages, alleges that her superiors subjected her to sexist remarks, including suggestions that she needed “anti-seduction” training to qualify for promotion. She also accuses Moët Hennessy of continuing to ship products to Russia through intermediaries after LVMH publicly suspended operations in March 2022.
Moët Hennessy disputes the claims, stating that any coaching offered was intended to support Gasparovic professionally and that her dismissal was due to alleged personal misconduct, including making threatening remarks to colleagues. The company is also suing her for defamation following her public allegations on social media, with a trial expected this autumn.
Insiders describe a “toxic” work environment at Moët Hennessy, marked by bullying, mismanagement, and a “boys club” culture. At least 20 employees reportedly went on long-term sick leave in 2024, with stress and bullying cited as reasons, and many subsequently left the company. One former employee likened the atmosphere to a “1990s fashion house” where shouting and aggressive behavior were normalized, despite it being 2025.
In addition to Gasparovic, at least four other female employees have reported harassment and bullying before leaving Moët Hennessy, with some cases settled confidentially at the employment tribunal. Male employees have also lodged complaints.
Despite multiple departures and allegations, Moët Hennessy maintains that recourse to the employment tribunal is a routine aspect of French labor relations and denies that its culture matches the negative portrayal. In a staff memo in September 2024, then-CEO Philippe Schaus and head of HR Paula Fallowfield sought to reassure employees, emphasizing the company’s commitment to confidentiality, fairness, and a positive work environment.
Following Gasparovic’s public accusations, Schaus and other senior executives, including the global head of HR Chantal Gaemperle, left LVMH, while Lacave departed early 2025. LVMH subsequently appointed Bernard Arnault’s son Alexandre and former CFO Jean-Jacques Guiony to lead a turnaround of the struggling drinks division, which faced financial difficulties amid a weak global alcohol market.
Executives announced plans in mid-2025 to reduce Moët Hennessy’s workforce by about 1,200 employees, or roughly 13 percent, in response to market pressures. Several sources suggest that the company’s toxic workplace culture predates the sector’s downturn but may have worsened under financial strain.
Employment lawyer Avi Bitton, representing several Moët Hennessy employees, confirmed frequent contentious departures linked to the company’s workplace issues, calling the problems “clear.”
Gasparovic denies allegations against her and insists she acted as a whistleblower in line with company policy. She alleges she faced sexist rumors, such as false claims about affairs with male executives, and that an investigation was launched into her private life on orders from senior management. She also alleges that Schaus and Lacave made inappropriate comments linking her promotion prospects to supposed attempts to “seduce” colleagues and clients.
Other employees told the Financial Times they were told to “get used” to rumors about women receiving opportunities through personal relationships, underscoring a pervasive culture of gossip.
While Schaus acknowledged Moët Hennessy’s historically male-dominated and nightlife-focused culture upon becoming CEO in 2017, and took steps to hire more women into senior roles, some former staff describe the environment as an “old-fashioned royal court” where conformity to unwritten social rules dictated career survival.
Gasparovic’s whistleblowing complaint also raised concerns about the company’s continued shipment of products to Russia via US intermediaries despite official sanctions, with internal documents revealing nearly €26 million in “special orders” of cognac and champagne sent to Russia in 2022 and 2023. Moët Hennessy denies any wrongdoing.
Her whistleblower report reached LVMH’s executive committee, prompting internal scrutiny and the eventual departure of Gaemperle in late 2024, though sources say her exit was unrelated to the scandal.
In a cease and desist letter to Gasparovic after she publicized her claims, Moët Hennessy accused her of abusing whistleblower protections for personal gain and denied any discrimination. The company argued she was not a genuine victim and had exploited her allegations for financial compensation.
Several executives, including Schaus and Gasparovic’s former boss Lacave, declined to comment on the ongoing dispute.
