With immense sadness I report the passing of Joël Lafon, long-time Rémy Martin/Rémy Cointreau executive, writes Martin Moodie.
Joël spent 34 years with the French drinks group, including 23 in travel retail (of which the final 13 were in Hong Kong).
He retired in 2012 to his home town of Bordeaux.
Joël leaves his wife Collette; children Thomas, Rémi and Virginie; and grandchildren Morgan, Gaspard, Alienor, Vadim and Mathias. Together with my colleagues at The Moodie Davitt Report, we extend our deepest condolences to the family.
Joël was among the most-respected and liked travel retail executives of his time. The two perceptions do not always go together. With Joël they fitted like a fine French glove.
He was a gentle, considered, self-deprecating man with a whimsical sense of humour. I recall his trademark smile and lovely chuckle as if it was yesterday.
Joël was one of the first industry executives I met in the early days of my travel retail career at Duty-Free News International in the late 1980s during the first of what would become annual visits to the famous town of Cognac.
Despite my ignorance of the channel (or maybe because of it), Joël took me under his wing, a warm patronage (and very quickly friendship) that would endure until and beyond his retirement.
I will miss him greatly as will his many friends in the industry. More importantly, we will remember with immense fondness a fine soul. Life is so very fragile. Rest in peace dear Joël. ✈
Note: You can leave tributes to Joël on my LinkedIn post.
