The French government announced the appointment of Christophe Leribault, president of Versailles, as new director of the Louvre museum.
The 62-year-old replaced Laurence des Cars after his resignation amid a growing crisis.
Leribault took over the world’s most visited museum at a time when it was hit by multiple crises following a daring jewelry theft in October, revealing glaring security vulnerabilities.
Thieves stole the crown jewels, valued at $102 million, in eight minutes.
Following the robbery, a cascade of problems emerged. Previously, staff went on strike due to deteriorating working conditions and salary issues, causing the museum to close for several days.
After that, a water leak occurred and damaged the book collections. Additionally, a prosecutor uncovered a ticket fraud scheme that allegedly siphoned off more than €10 million over a decade.
Due to repeated structural problems, one of the museum’s galleries was closed.
Leribault has in-depth institutional knowledge. Previously, he was deputy director of the graphic arts department at the Louvre from 2006 to 2012 and directed the Musée d’Orsay, the Petit Palais and the Musée national Eugène Delacroix.
During his time at Versailles, he faced challenges similar to those at the Louvre, including vast collections, aging buildings, and central cultural importance.
