Germany-based Douglas Group has appointed Jean-Marc Bellaiche as Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 November 2026. The former Printemps chief will succeed Sander van der Laan, who is retiring after a 36-year career in retail, including four years leading the European premium beauty retailer.
Bellaiche’s appointment has been approved for a four-year term by the supervisory board of Douglas AG.
The 56-year-old French executive brings extensive experience in luxury, beauty and retail. He began his career at Boston Consulting Group in 1993, eventually becoming managing director and global leader of its Luxury, Fashion and Beauty sector. In 2014, he joined Tiffany & Co. as senior vice president and executive committee member, before holding senior positions at technology companies Contentsquare and Arianee.
After spending a decade in the United States, Bellaiche returned to Europe in 2020 to become CEO of Printemps Group. During his five-year tenure, he strengthened the French department store operator’s positioning, expanded its international and omnichannel activities, and improved operating profitability, according to the Douglas Group. He most recently served as CEO of luxury resort operator Sani/Ikos Group.
Bellaiche takes the helm at Douglas as the group continues to sharpen its omnichannel strategy and seeks to strengthen its partnerships with brands. Douglas operates in 22 European countries, with around 1,970 brick-and-mortar stores and online retail platforms under the Douglas, Nocibé, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty brands.
Van der Laan joined Douglas in October 2022 and oversaw a major transformation of the business, including changes to its category and exclusive-brand strategies, store network, supply chain and digital platforms. The company also returned to the stock market with its 2024 listing.
Before joining Douglas, van der Laan held senior positions at several retail companies in Europe and the United States. He is retiring after a 36-year career in the sector.
“This important change in the leadership at the top of the company has been prepared very thoughtfully and carefully,” said Dr. Henning Kreke, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Douglas AG.
