What: Luxury event sales specialist Arlettie strengthens its executive team with the arrival of Amandine de Souza as Chief Operating Officer.

Why it is important: This move reflects the growing importance of operational leadership in scaling luxury retail businesses, as seen in recent sector transformations.

Arlettie, the French luxury event sales specialist, has appointed Amandine de Souza as Chief Operating Officer, marking a significant step in its ongoing expansion. De Souza, who brings experience from Bain & Co., Westwing France, BHV Marais, and Leboncoin, will oversee business operations and support Arlettie’s ambitious growth plans. The company has experienced robust growth, with revenues quadrupling over the past four years, and is now preparing for a new phase of international development. With established showrooms in Paris and London and plans to open in New York by early 2026, Arlettie is also targeting broader online deployment and entry into Asia and the Middle East. The creation of the COO role is intended to ensure operational consistency across its expanding activities, from private sales to logistics. Founded in 2004 and rebranded in 2011, Arlettie has built a reputation as a preferred partner for luxury brands, leveraging acquisitions and strategic leadership to fuel its evolution.

IADS Notes: The appointment of Amandine de Souza as COO at Arlettie comes amid a broader wave of executive reshuffling and operational transformation across the luxury retail sector. In April and July 2025, both Printemps Group and Galeries Lafayette undertook significant leadership changes to support international expansion and digital transformation, echoing Arlettie’s own ambitions for growth in New York, Asia, and the Middle East. This trend is further reflected in the sector’s focus on operational excellence, as highlighted by the October 2025 analysis of intelligent operations, which demonstrated that advanced workflow optimization and strong operational leadership are now critical levers for profitability and scalability. Meanwhile, the luxury event sales and private showroom model continues to gain traction, with the resurgence of curated boutiques and private clubs in 2025 underscoring the value of exclusivity and experiential retail. Finally, the push for digital and geographic expansion—seen in Chalhoub Group’s regional strategy and LVMH’s pivot toward digital engagement in Asia—confirms that luxury retail’s future will be shaped by leaders who can drive both operational consistency and innovative market entry

Former GL Executive Amandine de Souza to become CEO of discounter Arlettie