Bernard Magrez hires a deputy managing director

n July 18, Augustin Lacaille will take up his new position as deputy managing director of the Bernard Magrez group. He has been sales director of Emmanuel Cruse and Jacky Lorenzetti’s vineyards since 2014, which feature three 1855-classified Grands Crus: Châteaux d’Issan in Margaux, Lafon-Rochet in Saint-Estèphe and Pédesclaux in Pauillac, alongside Château Lilian Ladouys in Saint-Estèphe which left the Crus Bourgeois du Médoc classification in 2025. Lacaille joins a major group which owns 42 estates around the world, including four Grands Crus Classés: Château Pape Clément, Graves Cru Classé, Château Fombrauge, Saint-Émilion Cru Classé, Château Tour Carnet, 1855-classified AOC Médoc Grand Cru Classé and Clos Haut-Peyraguey, 1855-classified AOC Sauternes Grand Cru Classé.

Bernard Magrez, now 89, is chairman of his namesake group with his children РC̩cile Daquin dit Loustau (59) and Philippe Magrez (62) Рjoining him in 2020 as managing directors. Although Magrez claims he intends to continue to helm the group he founded as long as possible, and has always said he is extremely cautious of the way he hands it over, he is clearly preparing for a new stage in its development: he aims to find a financial partner to develop new sales networks. Hiring a new deputy managing director with a focus on premium wine markets in general and Grands Crus in particular is part of this strategy of adapting to new market dynamics for wine. The Grands Crus have also been affected by the trade crisis.