PATRICK RICARD

Patrick Ricard, 67, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Pernod Ricard, died suddenly on August 17 after suffering a heart attack on the family-owned island of Bendor in southern France.  Ricard was the son of Paul Ricard, who first commercialized pastis, an anise-flavored liqueur, in 1932.  He was managing director of the Ricard company when it merged with its longtime competitor, Pernod, in 1975.  Ricard led the company, which also produces Absolut Vodka, Martell cognac, Perrier-Jouet champagne and Glenlivet whisky, for three decades and was chairman and CEO between 1978 and 2OO8 when he resigned as chief executive but stayed on as chairman.  Ricard was married and the father of three. fortune magazine named Patrick Ricard European Businessman of the Year in 2OO6.