Pernod Ricard UK’s commercial director for spirits, Simon van Moppes, is moving on to an international role for the drinks giant in the new year.

Van Moppes will become group on-trade development director, based in Paris, having been in his current role since 2009.

He joined Pernod Ricard in 2006 as sales director for the off-trade, and became sales director for the on-trade two years later. Prior to that, he worked at Unilever for 16 years.

“Leaving PRUK is a real wrench but the UK is within my remit so, in those immortal words: ‘I’ll be back’ - often,” van Moppes said. He added Pernod Ricard UK was bringing its wines and spirits divisions together, and Chris Ellis, commercial director for wines, would take over his responsibilities from 1 January.

Ellis was promoted to his current role in 2012. He has worked at Pernod Ricard since 2005 and has also held the role of channel director for off-trade spirits.

Denis O’Flynn, MD of Pernod Ricard UK, said: “I wish Simon and Chris every success in their new positions as we continue to shape the nation’s drinking experiences in the UK.”