Hélène Poulit-Duquesne Elected President of The Comité Colbert

Hélène Poulit-Duquesne is no stranger to the Comité Colbert, having already served on the board of directors and been appointed Vice-Chair three years ago. It must be said that the future chairwoman has had an exceptional career. A graduate of ESSEC Business School in Cergy, France, Hélène Poulit-Duquesne began her career at LVMH before joining Christian Dior's perfume division. Since 1998, she has risen through the ranks at Cartier, becoming Director of International Marketing in 2010. In 2015, the businesswoman joined the Kering luxury group to take the helm of the Boucheron jewellery house, where she still holds the position of Chief Executive Officer.

This election comes at a time when the Comité Colbert occupies a very important place in the French luxury landscape. It brings together 98 houses and 17 cultural institutions, representing a wide variety of sectors, from fine jewellery and leather goods to textiles and perfumes, as well as heritage and high-end hotels. Its objectives are multiple and all vital today for the major French houses: promoting the French art of living, preserving know-how, supporting innovation and working to pass on traditional craftsmanship.

The Comité Colbert plays a crucial role in defending the economic interests of French luxury goods internationally. As a leading institution, it represents a strategic sector that carries considerable weight: French luxury goods, which account for a quarter of the global market, generate an average of 86% of their turnover through exports and create a considerable number of jobs.

By appointing Hélène Poulit-Duquesne, the Committee is continuing the strategy that enabled it to orchestrate the high-end repositioning of the Boucheron brand. In a statement following her appointment, the future chairwoman also emphasised her intention to ‘showcase our expertise and support our industries, collectively promote our values and our companies internationally, and place sustainable development, a future challenge for the planet and our professions, at the heart of our strategies,’ all of which are fundamental key points for the future of French manufacturing.

Her presidency could thus prove essential in boosting France's presence in strategic foreign markets (Asia, the United States and the Middle East) while protecting the cultural heritage and DNA of French luxury.