Raphaël is an international drinks industry leader with a wealth of experience in the Scotch whisky, champagne and rum industries. He has extensive commercial expertise across the world and brings to the IBD Board considerable knowledge in brand strategy and marketing, commercial development, operations, CSR and multicultural management. With his ample experience in business growth and repositioning brands in the high-end segment, Raphaël represents the wide knowledge and the diverse and global reach of the IBD.

His career started in 1994 at Inver House Distribution as the Iberia Zone Manager where he was responsible for the commercial development of whisky across multinational purchasing groups. After this, Raphaël joined Distilleries Ryssen (Victor Fauconnier – Hesdin Division), first as Southern Europe Zone Director and later as the Export Director. A position focused on the commercial development of private labels and mass-market brands in Europe, South America and Asia.

Following this, Raphaël became the Southern & Eastern Europe Zone Director of Champagne Ruinart, part of LWMH Group, where he focused on the activation of the on-trade exclusive Moet-Hennessy Champagne. His career continued in Rémy Cointreau as the Northern Europe Zone Director with base in Paris. His main responsibility was portfolio development with brands like Piper & Charles Heidsieck Champagne, Rémy Martin Cognac, Cointreau, Mouént Gay Rum, St Remy Brandy and Passoa Liqueur.

At Rémy Cointreau, Raphaël was appointed the Managing Director at Mount Gay Distilleries in Barbados where he has been in charge, in a first instance of portfolio development and later of operations and strategy to reposition the brand in the high-end segment. He also had a key role in the creation of Barbados Rum GI in partnership with the Barbados Government.

Raphaël has been the Chairman of the Barbados Rum Distillers Committee, Director of WIRSPA (West Indies Rum and Spirit Producers Association) and Co-Founder and Director of the Barbados Alcohol Industry Association till September 2022, when he became General Manager at Rémy Cointreau Canada. Based in Toronto, his main focus has been the development and expansion of the company's portfolio in this country.

Since August 2023, Raphaël is Managing Director AMEI (Africa, Middle East, India) for Rémy Cointreau. Based in Dubai, he continues expanding his international career and developing the portfolio of the company in these markets.

Born in Marseille and raised in Paris, Raphaël has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Commerce, Law and Economics for L'Institut Libre des Relations Internationales et Des Sciences Politiques in Paris, and a Master in Ethnology for la Université Paris 7 Cité. Studies that he complemented with a Master in Business Administration for the University of Warwick and a Certificate in Sustainability Leadership & Corporate Responsibility at London Business School.

A passionate sportsman, Raphaël is three-time winner of the J24 Regatta in Barbados, and a former rugby player who as a hooker was part of the 2nd and 3rd French Divisions. Now passionate about cycling with his wife and kids.

In his free time and to relax, he balances work and sports by drumming in a band and beekeeping.