Dior Appoints Tony Estanguet, Former Head of the Paris Olympics

But Tony Estanguet’s ambitions soon extended beyond the realm of competition. After ending his career in elite sports, he turned his attention to sports governance. In 2013, he joined the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes’ Commission.

Two years later, alongside Bernard Lapasset, he became co-chair of Paris’s bid for the 2024 Games. When the French capital was awarded the Games in Lima in 2017, Estanguet emerged as the natural choice to take the reins of the organizing committee.

The athlete now had to navigate political issues, public opinion, sponsors, budgets, and thousands of operational decisions. For seven years, he became the face of Paris 2024 and led an organization with a budget of several billion euros.

Despite challenges related to security, logistical pressures, political tensions, and controversies surrounding swimming in the Seine, the Paris 2024 Games drew packed venues and sparked genuine public enthusiasm. The organizing committee also closed its books with a surplus of 76 million euros—a remarkable achievement.

This track record helps explain why the next phase of Estanguet’s career is attracting so much attention today. On October 7, 2026, Christian Dior co-opted him as an independent director, replacing businessman Nicolas Bazire. This appointment comes as the Arnault family prepares to streamline its structure around Agache and Christian Dior. Estanguet thus joins the board of directors at a strategic moment for the group.

His arrival represents more than just a prestigious career transition following an exceptional athletic career. It illustrates a path increasingly common among elite athletes: transforming the demands of Olympic sport into governance and management skills. Estanguet has demonstrated that his talent lies not only in his ability to win races, but also in his capacity to bring people together, manage pressure, and successfully carry out complex projects on the international stage. At Dior, the former Olympic champion is entering a radically different arena.