Background 

Pernod Ricard UK brings together three distinct businesses under one umbrella: PRUK, a fast-paced commercial arm, Chivas Brothers, steeped in manufacturing heritage, and PR GTR, a globally dispersed travel retail division. Each had its own identity and rhythm but all faced a shared challenge: how to effectively develop and connect their middle managers.

This vital population drives engagement, retention and leadership pipeline strength, yet previous leadership programmes had failed to resonate. Local initiatives felt disconnected from real business pressures and managers viewed development as irrelevant or transactional. The organisation needed a unified approach, one that would embed development into its culture, build confidence and inspire future-ready leaders.

Approach 

In response Pernod Ricard UK launched INSPIRE, a coaching-led leadership development programme designed to unify and elevate leadership capability across all three businesses. Co-created with more than 30 senior leaders and three HR Directors, the initiative began with deep discovery – 60 hours of interviews, focus groups and engagement data analysis to understand managers’ real challenges and aspirations.

Four core themes emerged: Values-Focused Leadership, Communication, Coaching and Feedback Culture. These became the backbone of INSPIRE. The programme was built as a modular experience combining experiential workshops, peer-to-peer coaching, facilitated support groups and real-world application. Coaching was positioned not as a skill to learn but as a mindset to live, ensuring impact would extend far beyond the classroom.

“INSPIRE transformed leadership from a course to a culture, uniting managers through coaching, purpose and shared belief”

To guarantee momentum, INSPIRE was delivered with two success drivers: a goal to reach 100% of middle managers within 18 months and a focus on advocacy measured through Net Promoter Score (NPS). HR and business leaders championed the programme, helping shift long-held perceptions that leadership development was optional or peripheral.

Outcome

INSPIRE exceeded expectations. Within 18 months 100% of middle managers completed the programme. It achieved an exceptional NPS with participants describing it as relevant, empowering and authentic. Post-programme feedback showed a 35% increase in self-reported confidence in key leadership behaviours such as coaching, feedback and communication.

Beyond numbers INSPIRE created visible cultural change. Managers now feel more connected, supported and equipped to lead through complexity, senior leaders have become vocal advocates and peer coaching networks have broken down silos across the three businesses.

By embedding coaching as both a mindset and method Pernod Ricard UK transformed leadership development from a training exercise into a unifying cultural movement, building connection, confidence and continuity for the future.

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