What: Jean-Marc Bellaiche, former head of Printemps and currently CEO of resort operator Sani/Ikos Group, will lead European beauty retailer Douglas Group from November 1.

Why it is important: Europe's largest premium beauty retailer is now run by a former department store CEO, as beauty becomes one of the most directly contested categories between department stores and specialist chains.

Douglas Group has named Jean-Marc Bellaiche chief executive officer from November 1. He succeeds Sander van der Laan, who joined in October 2022 and is retiring after a 36-year career. Under van der Laan, the Düsseldorf-based group listed on the stock exchange in 2024, developed a new category and exclusive-brands strategy, revised its store network and reorganised its supply chain.

Bellaiche, 56, has spent the past year as CEO of luxury resort operator Sani/Ikos Group. He previously led Printemps Group for five years from 2020, a period during which, according to Douglas, he strengthened the department store's distinctiveness and customer focus, introduced more exclusivities, accelerated international and omnichannel development and improved operating profitability. He has also held senior roles at Tiffany & Co., Contentsquare and Arianee.

Supervisory board chairman Henning Kreke said Bellaiche is expected to put greater focus on customer-centricity, beauty brand partnerships and operational excellence. Bellaiche cited the group's omnichannel footprint, loyal customers and close brand relationships as strengths to build on with teams across 22 European countries.

Douglas Group, which includes Douglas, Nocibé, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, operates about 1,970 stores and generated 4.58 billion euros in sales in the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025.

IADS Notes: Bellaiche's move to Douglas follows a turbulent exit from Printemps, where his departure in September 2025 was followed by nine months of interim leadership before Rémy Baume was named CEO (WWD, June 2026). Douglas credits him with improving operating profitability; Printemps nonetheless posted losses of €38 million in 2024 and €42 million in 2025, and announced 229 job cuts and the closure of its Rennes store in April 2026 (L'Informé, April 2026). His appointment at Europe's leading premium beauty retailer comes as department stores and beauty specialists compete ever more directly for the same category. Macy's has added 40 beauty brands and devoted some 54,000 square feet to beauty at its Herald Square flagship (BeautyInc, May 2026), while M&S has chosen to hand its beauty offer to Sephora, which will operate in 100 of its UK stores from spring 2027 (Retail Week, September 2026). Talent flows between the two worlds in both directions, as shown by Liberty's appointment of Laura Simpson, a former Procter & Gamble, Coty and Wella executive, as chief marketing officer (WWD, July 2026).

Douglas Group names former Printemps chief Jean-Marc Bellaiche as CEO