Louvre Museum: Versailles Director Leribault Appointed After Heist & Resignation
Paris – France has appointed Christophe Leribault as the new president of the Louvre Museum, entrusting the former director of the Palace of Versailles with the task of restoring stability to the world’s most visited museum following a damaging jewellery heist and ongoing internal strife. The appointment, announced on , comes just one day after the resignation of Laurence des Cars, who faced mounting criticism over security failures and labour disputes.
Leribault’s selection by President Emmanuel Macron signals a decisive move to address a series of crises that have plagued the Louvre in recent months. In , burglars made off with jewels estimated to be worth $102 million, exposing significant vulnerabilities in the museum’s security protocols. The stolen items remain unrecovered. Simultaneously, the museum has been repeatedly disrupted by staff strikes over pay and working conditions, beginning in mid-December.
“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,” the French Culture Ministry stated.
The 62-year-old art historian brings a wealth of experience to the role, having previously led the Musée d’Orsay and the Musée de l’Orangerie, both in Paris. He assumed leadership of the Palace of Versailles in and will relinquish that position to take on his new responsibilities at the Louvre.
Des Cars’ resignation followed a state auditors’ report last year that highlighted systemic issues within the museum’s management. The report urged a shift in spending priorities, advocating for increased investment in security and infrastructure upgrades rather than acquisitions. The auditors found that, as of , only 39% of rooms within the vast museum were equipped with CCTV cameras.
A recent parliamentary inquiry further intensified scrutiny of the Louvre, describing it as a “state within a state” and identifying “systemic failures” and a “denial of risk” in its operations. Alexandre Portier, chair of the inquiry, stated that the burglary had revealed a management structure that was “currently failing.”
The appointment of Leribault is also seen as an attempt to stabilize a politically sensitive situation for Macron’s government. Culture Minister Rachida Dati, a leading contender in next month’s mayoral election in Paris, has been under pressure to resolve the Louvre crisis. Sources close to Macron indicated that Dati has been keen to be seen as the minister who “resolved the Louvre issue,” and reportedly sought to remain in her post as long as possible to oversee the transition.
Des Cars, who was appointed in , publicly acknowledged a “terrible failure” in the wake of the October heist, admitting that security camera coverage of the museum’s exterior was “highly inadequate.” She stated that despite efforts to improve security, the museum had fallen short.
Beyond the immediate concerns of security and staff relations, Leribault will also need to address other challenges facing the Louvre. These include allegations of a ticket fraud scheme that prosecutors claim siphoned off more than €10 million over a decade, and persistent issues with water leaks that have disrupted operations. The museum welcomed over 8.7 million visitors in , underscoring the scale of the logistical and security challenges it faces.
The Louvre’s struggles reflect broader concerns about the management and funding of France’s cultural institutions. The incident has sparked a national debate about the need for greater investment in security and infrastructure to protect the country’s cultural heritage. Leribault’s success in restoring trust and stability to the Louvre will be closely watched as a test case for the future of France’s museums.