Guillaume Cerutti Named President Of Château De Versailles

(MENAFN- USA Art News) Guillaume Cerutti, the former president of the Pinault Collection and ex-CEO of Christie's auction house, has been appointed the next president of the Château de Versailles. French President Emmanuel Macron's nomination of Cerutti, who is 60, was officially announced by government officials. He is slated to assume his new role on November 9, succeeding Christophe Leribault, who departed in February to lead the Louvre.

Cerutti stepped down from his position as president of the Pinault Collection in the spring, after only 13 months, a move that prompted speculation of a disagreement with its founder, French billionaire François Pinault. The Pinault family's holding company, Artémis, also owns Christie's. An unnamed, high-ranking museum figure told Politico,“It's a big comeback. I don't know how he managed to get the job.” Le Monde characterized his appointment as“a stunning vindication.”

Cerutti's extensive career in French public arts includes serving as managing director of the Centre Pompidou and as chief of staff to the minister of culture. In the auction sector, he was CEO of Sotheby's France from 2007 to 2011, subsequently becoming deputy chairman of Sotheby's Europe. In 2016, he joined Christie's as president for Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and India, ascending to CEO a year later, a role he held until January 2025. In February 2025, Cerutti became president of the Pinault Collection.

The Pinault Collection, which holds 10,000 works, also manages private museums such as the Bourse de Commerce in Paris, opened in 2021, and the Palazzo Grassi and Punta della Dogana in Venice, which opened in 2006 and 2007 respectively. However, Le Monde reported that Cerutti“antagonized” Pinault soon after taking charge of the collection by attempting to slow acquisitions. An unnamed source told French media,“He acted like an abrasive cost-cutter, without grasping that Pinault, for whom the collection is his passion, had no intention of letting anyone decide for him.”

His reputation as an“uncompromising manager” and his network of influential contacts reportedly secured him the Versailles position, particularly for fundraising. France's 2027 finance budget has reduced the palace's operating funding by €3 million ($3.4 million), while allocating €7 million ($7.9 million) for“investment.” Philippe Bélaval, a former advisor to Macron, told the AFP,“His experience in the private sector will be an asset at Versailles. We need to break down barriers: there isn't one noble sector and another that isn't.”

The French ministry of culture's announcement stated that Cerutti is also tasked with overseeing an ongoing €200 million ($225 million) restoration, safety, and security upgrade for the over 400-year-old former palace, a project that commenced in 2024 and is scheduled to conclude in 2031. The ministry added,“These works, aimed at strengthening fire safety and the security of the buildings and collections, represent the largest construction project the public institution has seen since its creation.” The Château de Versailles welcomed approximately 8.4 million visitors last year and employs around 1,000 workers. Security and safety enhancements have become critical following recent thefts across France, including the Louvre crown jewel heist in October 2025. To help cover operating costs, the former royal estate increased its standard entry fee for non-European residents to €35 ($39), up from €32 ($36), in January of this year.

Source: ARTnews

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