CEO Sander van der Laan is leaving Douglas; Jean-Marc Bellaiche will succeed him

After a 36-year career in international retail, including 4 years at Douglas, Sander van der Laan is stepping down from his position. Frenchman Jean-Marc Bellaiche has been appointed CEO effective November 1 for a four-year term.

“Carefully prepared”

“This significant change at the top of the company has been thoroughly considered and carefully prepared, ensuring a smooth and professional transition,” says Dr. Henning Kreke, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Douglas AG, in the press release. “We deeply regret Sander van der Laan’s decision to retire, but we fully respect his choice after a long and successful career.” According to van der Laan himself, who took the company public during his tenure at the helm, the time is right to step down from executive management.

His successor, 56-year-old Frenchman Bellaiche, has extensive experience in the luxury sector. He began his career in 1993 at the Boston Consulting Group, where he eventually became Managing Director and Global Leader of the Luxury, Fashion, and Beauty sector. In 2014, he joined Tiffany & Co., followed by executive and board positions at the technology companies Contentsquare and Arianee. After ten years in the United States, he returned to Europe in 2020 to become CEO of the French department store chain Printemps. For the past year, he has served as CEO of the luxury resort operator Sani/Ikos Group.