What: Harold Israel is appointed Director of Specialised Activities at Galeries Lafayette Paris to accelerate strategic growth in private label, e-commerce, and jewelry.

Why it is important: This appointment reinforces Galeries Lafayette’s commitment to strategic transformation and aligns with recent investment and modernisation initiatives.

Galeries Lafayette Paris has appointed Harold Israel as Director of Specialised Activities, a newly created executive role reporting directly to CEO Arthur Lemoine and joining the executive committee. This strategic move is designed to accelerate the development of key business areas, including the Galeries Lafayette private label, the commercial activity of the galerieslafayette.com website, and the jewellery and watch category. With over thirty years of experience in luxury, fashion, and retail, Israel brings a global perspective and deep sector expertise, having held leadership roles at Cartier, A.P.C., Marc Jacobs, and Berluti. His appointment is part of a broader strategy to modernise the department store’s offer and strengthen its omnichannel approach, leveraging both heritage and innovation. The creation of this role and the integration of Israel into the leadership team reflect Galeries Lafayette’s ambition to drive growth, enrich the customer experience, and secure its position as a leader in the evolving retail landscape. 

IADS Notes: The appointment of Harold Israel as Director of Specialised Activities at Galeries Lafayette Paris marks a significant step in the retailer’s ongoing transformation, aligning with the company’s €400 million investment plan announced in November 2024 (Challenges) and detailed in February 2025 (Le Figaro). This strategic move is part of a broader effort to modernise the store network, enhance the omnichannel experience, and accelerate growth in key categories such as private label, e-commerce, and jewellery, as highlighted by the store’s double-digit growth and investment strategy in July 2025 (Fashion Network). The leadership renewal, including recent executive appointments and the strengthening of the management team in July and September 2025 (WWD), underscores Galeries Lafayette’s commitment to innovation and operational excellence. These organisational changes are designed to support the retailer’s ambition to remain at the forefront of global retail, blending tradition with forward-looking strategies and leveraging international expertise to drive both domestic and international expansion.

Galeries Lafayette appoints Harold Israel as Specialised Activities Director