Headlines
France tasks Versailles director with overhauling Louvre after heist
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 25, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 25, 2026
Tags:governance
Quick Summary
France named Versailles director Christophe Leribault to lead the Louvre after a $102m jewel heist and staff unrest. His mandate is to tighten security, fix infrastructure and restore trust after Laurence des Cars’ resignation.
Versailles Chief Leribault to Lead Louvre Overhaul After Jewel Heist
PARIS, Feb 25 (Reuters) - France on Wednesday 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.
He will succeed Laurence des Cars, who resigned on Tuesday, government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said. Des Cars has faced intense criticism since burglars made off in October with jewels worth an estimated $102 million that are still missing, exposing glaring security gaps at the museum.
Immediate Security Priorities
Security Overhaul and Financial Implications
"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 Culture Ministry said in a statement about President Emmanuel Macron's pick for the job.
Leribault’s Background and Experience
Leribault, 62, is an 18th‑century art historian who previously led Paris' Musée d’Orsay and the Orangerie before taking over at Versailles in 2024. He will leave the Versailles job to take up the Louvre role.
He was deputy director of the Louvre's department of graphic arts from 2006 to 2012, the ministry said.
Ticket Fraud Losses Exceed €10M
Labor Disruptions and Fraud Probe
As well as the heist, strikes over pay and work conditions have repeatedly shut the Louvre since mid‑December, while water leaks and a ticket‑fraud probe that prosecutors say siphoned more than 10 million euros over a decade have also cast a shadow over one of Paris' top tourist attractions.
Home to the Mona Lisa
Redirecting Budget to Upgrades
Audit Calls for Reprioritized Spending
A state auditors' report last year urged management at the Louvre, home to Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa, to redirect spending from acquisitions to overdue security and infrastructure upgrades.
(Reporting by Gianluca Lo Nostro and Elissa Darwish; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten, Gabriel Stargardter and Alison Williams)
Key Takeaways
- •France appointed Versailles director Christophe Leribault to head the Louvre.
- •Move follows a high‑profile jewel heist that exposed major security gaps.
- •Priority is to strengthen safety for the building, collections and visitors.
- •Appointment comes after Laurence des Cars resigned amid mounting criticism.
- •Strikes, water leaks and a ticket‑fraud probe add to the Louvre’s challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions about France tasks Versailles director with overhauling Louvre after heist
1What is the main topic?
France appointed Versailles director Christophe Leribault to lead the Louvre, tasking him with a security and governance overhaul after a high‑value jewel heist and staff unrest.
2Why did the leadership change happen?
A brazen jewel heist exposed security weaknesses and, alongside strikes and infrastructure issues, fueled criticism that led to the resignation of former director Laurence des Cars.
3What will Leribault prioritize?
He will reinforce security for the museum, its collections and visitors, restore trust with staff and the public, and drive long‑needed infrastructure upgrades.
