Having graduated from prestigious institutions, such as Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC ’72), the Institut des Hautes Études Politiques (Sciences Po ’74), and the University of Paris (DES/Master of Science in Economics), André Cointreau began his career at Unilever, then at the American Express Banking Corporation before joining the Cointreau Group (now Rémy Cointreau) in 1977.
In 1984, André Cointreau was appointed President of “Le Cordon Bleu”, which has developed into a global network of over 30 institutes awarding diplomas, Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Culinary Arts, Restaurant and Hotel Management. Under his presidency, “Le Cordon Bleu Peru” attained university status.
Besides his regular involvement in research chairs, André Cointreau has contributed to the establishment of La Fondation Sciences et Cultures Alimentaires within the Académie des Sciences and the Diplôme Universitaire Hautes Études du Goût with the University of Reims.
André Cointreau has been a member of the Board of Alliance Française since 1993 and was elected treasurer of the Fondation Alliance Française.
Distinctions:
- Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the French National Order of the Legion of Honour), 2007
- Honorary degrees from Sookmyung University (Seoul), Interamericana University (Central America), and Kaohsiung National University of Hospitality and Tourism (Taiwan)
- Medal of the City of Paris
- Gold Medal of Anahuac University (Mexico), 2006
- “Personality of the Year” by the Federation of Alliances Françaises (USA), 2003
- Inducted in the Hall of Fame of the Food and Beverage Forum, 2005
- Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Culinary Professionals (IACP), 2010
- Grand Prize of Gastronomic Culture by the Académie Internationale de la Gastronomie (AIG), 2018