Guillaume Cerutti Takes Office as President of the Château de Versailles

Guillaume Cerutti has officially taken office as president of the public establishment of the Château, Museum, and National Domain of Versailles. He assumed the position on November 9, 2026, following his appointment by President Emmanuel Macron, proposed by France’s Culture Minister Catherine Pégard and approved by the Council of Ministers on November 4.

Cerutti succeeds Christophe Leribault, who left Versailles in February 2026 to become president of the Louvre. Cerutti (b. 1966) graduated from Sciences Po Paris and the École nationale d’administration (ENA). He began his career in public service and became director general of the Centre Pompidou in 1996, a position he held until 2001. From 2002 to 2004, he served as chief of staff to Culture Minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon, contributing to the preparation of France’s 2003 law on cultural patronage, known as the Aillagon Law. From 2004 to 2007, he headed the Directorate General for Competition Policy, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

In 2007, Guillaume Cerutti moved to the private sector as president and CEO of Sotheby’s France, later taking on European leadership roles at the auction house. In 2015, he joined Christie’s as president for Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and India. He became global CEO in 2017 and held the position until January 2025. During his tenure, Christie’s handled major sales, including the 2017 auction of Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi.

In January 2025, Cerutti became president of the Pinault Collection, overseeing its cultural activities, including the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, Punta della Dogana, and Palazzo Grassi in Venice. He left the position in March 2026, after approximately 13 months. No official reason for his departure was announced. Cerutti also wrote the 2016 book La Politique culturelle, enjeu du XXIe siècle and has taught a course on the art market at Sciences Po.

At Versailles, Guillaume Cerutti will oversee acquisition, heritage restoration, and audience development policies. His responsibilities include supervising the estate's master works program, particularly fire safety and security improvements to the château’s central section. The project began in late 2024 and is scheduled to continue through 2031, making it the largest construction project undertaken by the institution since its creation. Other priorities include restoring historic interiors and gardens, addressing climate-related conservation challenges, strengthening collection security, and researching provenance.

In 2025, the Château de Versailles attracted 8.4 million visitors and had a workforce of around 1,000 employees. A €200 million master plan for security and visitor services runs through 2032. France’s proposed 2027 budget provides an additional €7 million for investment while reducing the château’s operating subsidies by €3 million.