Philippe Schaus
Philippe Schaus is a Luxembourg-born business executive and trained civil engineer. He was the CEO of Moët Hennessy.
He studied aircraft engineering at the University of Liège from 1982 to 1987, and then completed a business MBA at INSEAD.
In 1992, Schaus joined Villeroy & Boch in Germany as international commercial director, and later joined the board of directors. From 2003 to 2009, he held several positions at Louis Vuitton Malletier, including executive vice-president.
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. In 2012, he was named chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the group. Since October 2017 and until February 2025 he held that position at Moët Hennessy.
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. 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.
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.
In early 2021, Moët Hennessy acquired 50% of Armand de Brignac Champagne.
In 2023, Moët Hennessy acquired Chateau Minuty, another French rosé wine company.
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. Upon his departure in 2024, the company reported profits of € 1.356 million, representing an overall decline of -13% over his 8 years with the company, excluding inflation.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.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, Joseph Phelps and Provençal 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.
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.
In July 2025, the Financial Times reporting highlighted allegations of a toxic workplace culture at Moët Hennessy during Philippe Schaus’s tenure as CEO. The report indicated claims of sexual harassment, gender discrimination, and retaliation by a former senior employee. It described an environment where at least 20 employees took long-term sick leave in 2024, and multiple individuals—including women—lodged complaints of bullying and inappropriate behavior. Alleged incidents included insensitive comments and rumors that employees were subjected to sexist remarks and coached in ways unrelated to professional development. The company dismissed the characterisation of its culture as exaggerated and noted that such labor tribunal cases are routine in France. Schaus and the head of HR had previously attempted to address employee concerns in an internal memo, emphasizing confidentiality, fairness, and the distress that “one‑sided narratives” might cause.
Shortly after the reporting surfaced, Schaus and several other senior executives departed Moët Hennessy.