On 23 January, Laurent Boillot, CEO of Hennessy, gave up his time to visit the NEOMA campus in Reims to talk with the students on the Master in Management course He was keeping a promise made to his protégés at the start of the 2024 academic year, as this NEOMA graduate is also a sponsor of the year group.

The environment, a central theme in the Hennessy strategy

Laurent Boillot talked mainly about the environment, a matter to which Maison Hennessy has been very committed for over 20 years. And with reason, as the vines that are central to the business are particularly susceptible to climate change, and the AOC Cognac region is under threat. Conserving the environment has therefore become a central theme in the Hennessy strategy. So much so that its actions in terms of environmental responsibility now cover the whole life cycle and agricultural practice of its production chain.

Laurent Boillot, a CEO who is also passionate about climate issues

On the subject of the environment, the Hennessy CEO shared with the students an issue particularly close to his heart, the water cycle and the phenomenon of flying rivers. Flying rivers are currents of humidity in the atmosphere resulting from evaporation from trees that regulate the climate in many regions of the world. Hence the importance of forests and their regeneration, for which he is fighting.

The graduate appealed to the students to take action

This meeting between generations was an opportunity for the Hennessy CEO and NEOMA graduate to pass on a few pieces of advice. So he reminded the students of their future responsibilities in the area of the ecological transition. He invited them to take action and make commitments.

He also shared some of the lessons he had learned during his career. For him, it was all about thinking “Why not?” rather than “Yes, but…”! You have to aim at problems to overcome your limits. You have to create many encounters that will inspire you to dream big. His mantra: dream big, have great ambition for your life both as a professional and as a human.