Christophe Leribault, director of the Palace of Versailles, has been appointed as the new head of the Louvre by President Emmanuel Macron, replacing Laurence des Cars who resigned on Tuesday. The move comes after a tumultuous year for the world's most visited museum, marked by a high-profile jewellery heist and staff strikes.
The culture ministry stated that Leribault's priority will be to strengthen safety and security, restore trust, and lead necessary transformations. An art historian specialising in the 18th century, Leribault previously headed the Musée d'Orsay and Musée de l'Orangerie, and served as deputy director of the Louvre's graphic arts department from 2006 to 2012.
Des Cars resigned amid criticism following the October burglary where jewels worth an estimated $102m were stolen, exposing security gaps. The museum also faced repeated staff strikes over pay and conditions since December, as well as water leaks and an alleged ticket fraud scheme. A state auditors' report urged spending redirection to security upgrades, noting only 39% of rooms had CCTV by 2024.
