Christophe Leribault Appointed New Director of Louvre Following Des Cars' Dismissal

The Paris Louvre, the world's most visited museum, is undergoing a sudden change in leadership. Christophe Leribault, a renowned art historian and experienced cultural manager, has replaced Laurence des Cars as director. This appointment, announced by government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon, took effect immediately following Des Cars' Tuesday resignation. The former director succumbed to mounting pressure after the spectacular heist on October 19, 2025. During that incident, perpetrators stole crown jewels with an estimated value of 80 to over 100 million euros, exposing glaring security gaps at the institution. The new director takes over an institution in deep organizational crisis. Beyond the theft, the Louvre is grappling with the consequences of massive ticket fraud that may have cost the museum up to 12 million euros. Additional burdens include technical problems, such as water leaks threatening priceless collections, and controversies surrounding the ambitious modernization project "Louvre – Nouvelle Renaissance." This plan, which includes moving the "Mona Lisa" to a separate room with independent access, faces opposition due to costs estimated at one billion euros. Leribault, who has experience managing renovations while maintaining tourist flow from his time at the Musée d'Orsay, is expected to guarantee professionalization of security and restoration of trust in the institution. The Louvre, originally serving as a defensive fortress and later as a royal palace, was transformed into a national museum in 1793 during the French Revolution, becoming a symbol of democratized access to culture.Experts emphasize that Leribault's profile perfectly matches the current needs of the Ministry of Culture. As a specialist in 18th-century art who has previously managed the Petit Palais, Musée d'Orsay, and the Palace of Versailles, he enjoys high authority in conservation circles. His main priority will now be to calm tensions among staff, who have regularly participated in strikes against poor working conditions and underfunding of the building's technical maintenance. „La priorité de Leribault sera de renforcer la sûreté et la sécurité du bâtiment, des collections et des personnes, de restaurer un climat de confiance, et de porter, avec l'ensemble des équipes, les transformations nécessaires pour le musée.” (Leribault's priority will be to strengthen the safety and security of the building, the collections, and the people, to restore a climate of trust, and to carry out, with all the teams, the necessary transformations for the museum.) — Maud Bregeon