Christophe Leribault New Head of Louvre After Laurence des Cars' Dismissal

Christophe Leribault, a 62-year-old art historian and experienced cultural manager, has taken the helm of the Louvre at one of the most difficult moments in the institution's history. His appointment ends a brief period of vacancy following the sudden dismissal of Laurence des Cars, the first woman in this position, whose term was cut short by a series of embarrassing incidents. The most serious of these was the brazen theft of crown jewels worth approximately 80-100 million euros, which occurred on October 19, 2025. French media recently revealed details of the heist, pointing to glaring negligence in the facility's security systems. The new director inherits an institution struggling not only with security issues but also with progressive infrastructure degradation. In recent months, water leaks have occurred in the museum, threatening priceless collections, including works by Fra Angelico. An additional burden is the scandal involving mass ticket forgeries, which caused an estimated loss of 10-12 million euros. Louvre employees have repeatedly gone on strike, protesting against tourist overcrowding and staff shortages, further weakening the position of the previous management. Leribault's main task will be to implement the ambitious but controversial "Louvre – Nouvelle Renaissance" project, valued at one billion euros. The plan includes, among other things, moving the Mona Lisa to a separate room with its own entrance, which is intended to alleviate crowds under the glass pyramid. The French government hopes that Leribault's experience, gained from previously managing the Musée d'Orsay and Versailles, will allow for a smooth modernization without closing the facility to visitors. The Louvre, originally a fortress and later a royal residence, has served as a national museum since 1793, constituting a central point of French cultural policy and the state's prestige on the international stage. „La priorité de Leribault sera de renforcer la sûreté et la sécurité du bâtiment, des collections, et des personnes, afin de restaurer un climat de confiance.” (Leribault's priority will be to strengthen the safety and security of the building, the collections, and the people, in order to restore a climate of trust.) — Maud Bregeon This appointment has also caused reshuffles in other institutions. No successor has yet been appointed to replace Leribault at Versailles, while Annick Lemoine, the former director of the Petit Palais, has become the new head of the Musée d'Orsay and the Musée de l'Orangerie. Macron, for whom the Louvre reform is to be part of his political legacy, expects the new manager to deliver swift results in tightening procedures and calming the mood among staff.