PARIS – Famed department store Galeries Lafayette has named Arthur Lemoine chief executive officer, taking over form Nicolas Houzé, who steps into the role of executive chairman for the Galeries Lafayette Group.
Lemoine, who has been with Galeries Lafayette for over 15 years, previously held the position of offer and purchasing director. He will report to Houzé.
“Arthur intimately understands the company’s challenges and ambitions,” said Houzé in a statement. “His strategic vision, his ability to unite, and his knowledge of the fashion and retail sectors make him the ideal leader to drive this new dynamic.”
Lemoine reflected on taking over the group’s flagship store and brand.
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“I am committed to continuing our mission with the same dedication and passion, to promote an ambitious, audacious, and forward-looking retail experience, in France and beyond our borders,” he said of the 130-year-old department store.
Galeries Lafayette “showcases the best of creation to the widest audience by promoting a certain vision of the French art of living,” he added.
Lemoine joined Galeries Lafayette in 2010 as a buyer in the perfume category, and rose through the ranks of the landmark retailer.
He held key positions in food and beverage, including the launch of Italian market and food hub Eataly Paris Marais, as well as in the group’s watch and jewelry division. In his most recent position, Lemoine played a key role in revamping the brand’s offer and modernizing the historic Boulevard Haussmann flagship store.
The group invested about 100 million euros in revitalizing the flagship in 2021, and Houzé said last year that there is a similar amount budgeted for modernization over the next five years.
Houzé steps into the role overseeing the group, which includes online retailer La Redoute, watch and jewelry retailer Louis Pion, jewelry brand Mauboussin and the Royal Quartz travel retail division, which operates 11 stores in Paris airports.
Lemoine’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for Galeries Lafayette as it has rebounded from post-pandemic lows, transformed its omnichannel and digital offerings, revamped the luxury offering and created new amenities to attract tourists.
His appointment signals a new phase of growth for the company, aimed at deepening its retail leadership in France while accelerating its global ambitions across both flagship locations and digital platforms.
Galeries Lafayette directly operates 19 stores in France, and has a presence in Beijing, Chongqing, Doha, Dubai, Jakarta, Luxembourg, Macao, Shanghai, and Shenzhen. Two stores are slated to open in India, one later this year in Mumbai and another next year in New Delhi.
