Galeries Lafayette: Nicolas Houzé replaces Paul Delaoutre

By

Bruno Joly

Published
Mar 20, 2013

The family succession is nearly complete. Nicolas Houzé, son of group chairman Philippe, has been appointed head of the group’s department store division, which includes chains Galeries Lafayette and BHV. He succeeds Paul Delaoutre, who joined the company in 2003, to whom he has been deputy to since 2012. The new boss and eldest of the Houzé family (38 years old) has worked at the group for over 15 years, first starting on the ladder at retailer Monoprix. His father Philip is married to Christiane Moulin, heiress of the Galeries Lafayette Group. Some onlookers have previously speculated the patriarchal character of Philippe Houzé’s decisions.

The official announcement surprised quite a few, given that Paul Delaoutre, aged 57, was in Strasbourg on March 6 to show off the facelift of its flagship store there and discuss international projects.

The move today marks a family takeover of management and a change of generations, even though a partial sale of Monoprix is not yet complete and its rival Printemps could change hands. “As we pursue an ambitious strategy focused on our traditional business of department stores, we remain fully committed to our ambition to be a multi-specialist, multi-channel and multi-country lifestyle retail group,” said Philippe Houzé Monday in a statement.