Former Moët Hennessy exec claims ‘sexist’ bosses told her she needed ‘anti-seduction’ training

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.

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.  

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.  

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.  

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“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.

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.