Champagne producer Moet et Chandon has appointed Daniel Lalonde as its new chief executive officer, a role he began officially yesterday (July 26th).

Welcoming Mr Lalonde into the position, president and chief executive officer of Moet Hennessy Wines and Spirits Christophe Navarre paid homage to the contribution of his predecessor, Frederic Cumenthal, in developing the group's Champagne business.

A Canadian national and graduate of the University of Waterloo, Mr Lalonde has formerly worked for Deloitte, Haagen-Dasz and Nestle, before joining LVMH as president and chief executive officer for watches and jewellery in North America.

Moet & Chandon was recently involved in the widely-reported find of a number of bottles of 230-year-old Champagne in a shipwreck at the bottom of the Baltic sea.

According to Agence France-Presse, the Champagne house said it was "98 per cent certain" that the bottles found by a group of seven Swedish divers are Veuve Cliquot.