André J. Cointreau
Encyclopedia
André J. Cointreau is the president and CEO of l’Ecole de Cuisine et de Pâtisserie Le Cordon Bleu, better known as Le Cordon Bleu
. During his tenure, he has shifted the Le Cordon Bleu business from one school in Paris to a multinational concern with nearly 30 schools in 15 countries.
Cointreau is a direct descendant of the founding family of the Cointreau
liqueur and Rémy Martin
Cognac
. He holds degrees from the Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) and Sciences Po, Paris (Sciences Politique). Cointreau began his career with Unilever
and later The American Express
Banking Corporation before he joined the family business as a commercial director in the 1970s amid battles for control of the liquer magnate by the controlling families. Cointreau struck on his own in 1984, buying Le Cordon Bleu from Madame Elisabeth Brassart
, an old family friend.
Among other activities within the food and wine world, Cointreau helped to create the Science and Food Culture Foundation within the Académie des Sciences, and the Institute des Hautes Etudes du Goût (HEG) in conjunction with Reims University
. In 2005, he received the Hall of Fame award for his contribution to the International Food & Beverage Forum. In 2008, Cointreau was awarded the Légion d’Honneur from the Foundation Alliance francaise for his contributions and accomplishments as head of Le Cordon Bleu and "for his unique educational concept."
He also serves as CEO of Pierre Deux, a retail business focusing on French country decor and furnishings; his wife, Hedwidge Cointreau de Bouteville, runs the Pierre Deux stores.
Le Cordon Bleu
Le Cordon Bleu is the world's largest hospitality education institution, with 35 schools on five continents serving 20,000 students annually. Its primary education focus is on hospitality management and the culinary arts...
. During his tenure, he has shifted the Le Cordon Bleu business from one school in Paris to a multinational concern with nearly 30 schools in 15 countries.
Cointreau is a direct descendant of the founding family of the Cointreau
Cointreau
Cointreau is a brand of triple sec produced in Saint-Barthélemy-d'Anjou, France. It is drunk as an apéritif and digestif, and is a component of several well-known cocktails. It was originally called "Curaçao Blanco Triple Sec".-Production:...
liqueur and Rémy Martin
Rémy Martin
Rémy Martin is a brand selling cognac , specialist of the Cognac Fine Champagne originally produced by Rémy Martin, a French winemaker, who founded the company in 1724...
Cognac
Cognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
. He holds degrees from the Hautes Etudes Commerciales (HEC) and Sciences Po, Paris (Sciences Politique). Cointreau began his career with Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
and later The American Express
American Express
American Express Company or AmEx, is an American multinational financial services corporation headquartered in Three World Financial Center, Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States. Founded in 1850, it is one of the 30 components of the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The company is best...
Banking Corporation before he joined the family business as a commercial director in the 1970s amid battles for control of the liquer magnate by the controlling families. Cointreau struck on his own in 1984, buying Le Cordon Bleu from Madame Elisabeth Brassart
Madame Elisabeth Brassart
Madame Elisabeth Brassart was the proprietress of the Le Cordon Bleu school in Paris from 1945 to 1984. The present owner, André J. Cointreau, purchased it from Brassart, who was an old family friend....
, an old family friend.
Among other activities within the food and wine world, Cointreau helped to create the Science and Food Culture Foundation within the Académie des Sciences, and the Institute des Hautes Etudes du Goût (HEG) in conjunction with Reims University
Reims University
Reims University was one of the largest and most important universities in Europe during the Middle Ages. It was established in 1548 by papal bull, but shut down in 1793, during the French Revolution....
. In 2005, he received the Hall of Fame award for his contribution to the International Food & Beverage Forum. In 2008, Cointreau was awarded the Légion d’Honneur from the Foundation Alliance francaise for his contributions and accomplishments as head of Le Cordon Bleu and "for his unique educational concept."
He also serves as CEO of Pierre Deux, a retail business focusing on French country decor and furnishings; his wife, Hedwidge Cointreau de Bouteville, runs the Pierre Deux stores.