Interview • Portraits • The Chamber
Meet the Board - Paul-Emmanuel Gros
Paul-Emmanuel Gros joins the FNZCCI Board, bringing French strategy, Kiwi agility, and a passion for cross-cultural business and French wines!
Can you share a bit about your professional journey and what motivated you to join the Chamber's Board?
My background spans over 15 years in leadership roles across Europe and New Zealand, including strategy, operations, and governance — currently at New Zealand Post, where I lead strategic and operational transformation across the network. I also run a small wine import business, Les Belles Grappes, which gives me hands-on experience with the challenges and opportunities facing SMEs — especially those operating across cultures and markets. What drew me to the FNZCCI Board is a desire to give back and support stronger business ties between France and New Zealand — something I live personally and professionally. I bring a strategic mindset, strong governance experience, and a collaborative approach. I’m looking forward to contributing to the Chamber’s growth and ensuring we keep delivering real value to our members. Merci — and I’m excited to be on this journey with you all.
What personal passions do you tap into through your role as FNZCCI Board Member?
I’m genuinely excited about the journey the FNZCCI is on — there’s real energy and potential, and I feel I can contribute by helping strengthen the Chamber’s operating model to support sustainable growth and long-term impact. With a background in strategy and operational excellence, I’m keen to help build the internal structures and processes that allow the Chamber to scale and deliver more value to members. I’ve also joined initiatives that align with areas I care deeply about — such as SME support, agritech, and sustainability. These sectors are critical to the future of both New Zealand and France, and I see a unique opportunity for the Chamber to foster innovation, connection, and responsible growth across them.
What are the biggest challenges facing French businesses operating in New Zealand or Kiwi businesses operating in France, and how can the Chamber help address them?
One of the biggest challenges I see for both French businesses operating in New Zealand and Kiwi businesses entering France is navigating cultural differences — not just at the surface level, but in day-to-day working norms, decision-making styles, and how trust is built. These differences can impact everything from team dynamics to partnerships and customer relationships. Having worked across both cultures, I’ve seen how misunderstandings can slow down progress — but also how powerful it can be when teams really understand each other’s values, communication styles, and expectations. That’s an area where I believe the Chamber can play a meaningful role — by helping members develop deeper cultural fluency, not just through networking, but through practical tools, workshops, and shared experiences. I’d love to contribute to building those bridges — so both Kiwi and French businesses can operate more effectively, and more confidently, in each other’s environments.
If you could bring one aspect of French business culture to New Zealand OR an aspect of Kiwi culture you'd love to see in France, what would it be?
If I could bring one aspect of French business culture to New Zealand, it would be the value placed on long-term strategic thinking and structured decision-making. In France, there’s often a strong emphasis on planning, analysis, and rigour before taking action — which can lead to more deliberate, sustainable outcomes. On the other hand, what I admire in New Zealand’s business culture — and would love to see more of in France — is the agility and can-do attitude. Kiwis are often quick to test ideas, adapt, and move forward with pragmatism and openness. That mindset fosters innovation and responsiveness, especially in fast-changing environments. I believe the sweet spot lies in combining the best of both: the structure and depth of French strategy with the entrepreneurial energy and adaptability of Kiwi business. That’s also where the FNZCCI can help — by creating spaces where both styles are understood, respected, and shared.
What is your favourite French food or wine, and where do you recommend trying it in New Zealand?
I’m biased, of course — but one of my favourite French wines is the Château Cesseras Minervois La Livinière from my family’s vineyard in the south of France. It’s a beautifully structured red, blending Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Mourvèdre, with rich Mediterranean character and just the right balance of power and elegance. This wine, along with a curated selection of boutique French wines, is now available in New Zealand through Les Belles Grappes, the business I founded to bring a taste of authentic, small-producer French wine to Aotearoa. These are wines you’d typically only find in France, and I’m proud to share them with Kiwi wine lovers. So, for anyone looking to discover something truly unique and rooted in French heritage, I definitely recommend exploring the range at Les Belles Grappes.
