Caroline Hale, Head of Human Ressources

French at heart, American by life

It is something of a pilgrimage, a return to her roots. Caroline has left California to spend a few days in Murlin, catching up on projects with her Human Resources colleagues. Having been part of Charlois’ US operations since 2010, Caroline is the Group’s ambassador in the land of Uncle Sam, promoting the Charlois culture among her colleagues.

This stay in the Nièvre region, surrounded by vineyards and forests, has been a focused and productive one. “It’s a bit like coming home, returning to my roots, immersing myself in the heartland of Charlois, where it all began. It’s always a pleasure to come to Murlin. This village bears witness to the Group’s evolution and growth. Since 2010, I’ve watched it transform and become what it is today. I noticed that a few more improvements had been made over the past few months.”

She makes the trip an average of twice a year, which also gives her the opportunity to visit her family, particularly her mother, who lives in the Meuse region, near Verdun. “I have this maternal connection with France, both literally and figuratively. It’s the country where I was born and where I grew up. Even though I’ve lived in the United States for more than thirty years, today I feel more French than American.”

A Life-Changing Choice

Born in the Yvelines, Caroline grew up in Louviers, in the Eure region, before settling in the Meuse countryside, near Verdun. A studious middle-school student and an attentive high-schooler, Caroline dreamed of America. She became familiar with the language by listening to Billy Joel and country music… “I loved it. And I still do today. More generally, I had this desire deep inside me to go and live in the United States, without knowing for sure whether I would stay there and build my life there. The vastness of the country, a symbol of freedom, the wide-open spaces, the lakes, nature, the beaches and the California sunshine…”

Fresh out of high school, Caroline began studying International Business in the Paris region, a course that included a compulsory end-of-studies internship abroad. “It was the opportunity I needed to take the plunge, and I didn’t hesitate for a second.”

Caroline headed to San Francisco, where she joined the team of a company specializing in tailor-made discovery trips across the United States for French tourists. “It was the perfect way to discover this incredibly cosmopolitan country and its many different cultures.”

Immersion and Integration

Staying with an American family during her internship, Caroline continued her journey of integration, immersing herself in the culture and embracing the customs and traditions of her hosts. It was also during this time that she met the man who would become the father of her children, twins who are now 25 years old.

“After my internship, I landed my first job at Lafitte, a French company based in Toulouse that manufactures wine corks and capsules. I spent 17 years with the company, holding a variety of positions. I’m quite versatile: accounting, finance, sales and even some HR responsibilities. I also took evening classes at Sonoma State University to further develop my knowledge of business administration and accounting.”

Caroline and her family eventually settled permanently on the California coast, just a few miles from Napa Valley, California’s wine capital.

The Charlois Adventure

Caroline was in the United States when the Charlois adventure was getting underway on American soil. This was, she believes, why a mutual acquaintance approached her about joining the Group, which had just acquired Saury and Leroi in France and Winemakers Cooperage in California, later renamed Charlois Cooperage USA in 2010.

“A new team, a new challenge. After 17 years, I thought, why not?”

Her versatile profile and perfect command of both French and American English were valuable assets that Caroline brought to Charlois and its development across the western United States.

“Much like the position I had held previously, I took on a wide range of different but complementary responsibilities within the company, including HR, which I particularly enjoyed.”

From her office in Cloverdale, Caroline has watched Charlois grow and expand across the United States.

“The major development in recent years has been the acquisitions of Graf and Kelvin in Kentucky. The business has grown significantly, and so has the number of employees. Today, around 380 people work for the Charlois companies across the US.”

This increase in headcount led to Caroline moving into a fully dedicated HR role.

“This is the role I have today, and one I took on with great enthusiasm. I support Sonia Charlois in managing the many HR matters and in supporting our teams across the United States. We work closely together on a wide range of issues, particularly adapting practices from Europe to the United States, where laws are different, especially when it comes to employment law, social protection and healthcare. In a company like ours, Human Resources plays an important role: safeguarding our values and our corporate culture.”

Three Questions for Caroline

You have been living in the United States since 1993. So, by now, you have spent more time in the US than in France…

That’s right. In a way, I live between two cultures: very French in my everyday life in the United States and, sometimes surprisingly, quite American when I return to France. But deep down, France is my home country and, quite honestly, I feel, and know myself to be, more French than American. I can even say that I could see myself living in France when I retire.

For many people, California is a picture-postcard destination: the beaches, the ocean, the sunshine, Hollywood and its Walk of Fame… Everything is big and larger than life, that’s true. But California is also the freest state in America. It is a place where life is good, where success is valued and rewarded.

You are now Head of Human Resources for the Charlois companies in the United States. What does your role involve?

Ah, that’s a big question. I moved away from the administrative and accounting responsibilities I previously held, back when we had fewer employees. The Group’s expansion in the US has led to a considerable increase in headcount. So when Sonia Charlois offered me the opportunity to take on Human Resources full-time, I immediately said yes.

It’s a role I particularly enjoy, even though you are constantly walking a fine line. On one side, there are people; on the other, the company. We need to protect our employees while also safeguarding the company’s interests. It’s about making sure that things run smoothly.

It is also a position through which we convey the company’s spirit and values to everyone. There is a commitment to doing things well, to rigor and to authenticity, all of which are the foundations of our corporate culture.

How is Charlois perceived within our companies in the United States?

Quite well, very well, in fact. In my view, Charlois’ arrival has been a tremendous added value for our employees, both in terms of working conditions and the development of their skills and expertise.

I remember a little anecdote from the publication of the first Charlois magazine. Most of our employees were surprised by the Group’s story, and by the long-term history of the Charlois family. They were also surprised to discover, through both words and images, the small village of Murlin, the place where it all began.

Photography: Christophe Deschanel