PARIS (dpa-AFX) - Patrick Ricard, the chairman of French alcoholic-beverage giant Pernod Ricard (PRN.L, PDRDY.PK, PDRDF.PK) passed away on Friday.

Ricard was a member of the founding family and had chaired Pernod Ricard, since 1978. He was also chief executive until 2008.

'The staff of SA Paul Ricard as well as the 18,000 employees of Pernod Ricard group share the grief of the family,' the company said in a statement.

The Ricard group was founded in 1932 and merged with Pernod in 1975.

Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX