Christophe Leribault, most recently Versailles director, will be tasked with improving security and ‘restoring climate of trust’
France has appointed Christophe Leribault as the new head of the Louvre, bringing in the director of the Palace of Versailles to turn around the world’s most visited museum after a humiliating jewellery heist and staff strikes.
Leribault, who was chosen by the French president, Emmanuel Macron, will succeed Laurence des Cars, who resigned on Tuesday. Des Cars had faced intense criticism since burglars made off in October with jewels worth an estimated $102m, exposing glaring security gaps at the museum. The jewels are still missing.
The culture ministry said in a statement: “Leribault’s priority will be to strengthen the safety and security of the building, the collections, and people, to restore a climate of trust, and to carry forward, together with all the teams, the necessary transformations for the museum.”
Leribault, 62, is an art historian specialising in the 18th century who previously led the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie, both in Paris, before taking over at Versailles in 2024. He will leave the Versailles job to take up the Louvre role.
