France’s Ministry of Culture announced on 4 November 2026 that Guillaume Cerutti, the former global chief executive of Christie’s and former president of the Pinault Collection, has been named president of the public establishment of the Palace, Museum and National Estate of Versailles. According to the ministry’s press release, he takes up his duties on 9 November 2026.
The Art Newspaper, reporting on 5 November, says the palace had been without a president for eight months and that Cerutti succeeds Christophe Leribault, who the outlet says was appointed president and director of the Louvre in February. The same report says Versailles welcomed 8.4 million visitors in 2025 and employs around 1,000 people.
The appointment and the brief
The ministry says the President of the Republic made the appointment on the proposal of Culture Minister Catherine Pégard. It states that Cerutti will continue the policy of acquisitions, heritage restoration and audience development pursued by his predecessors.
Among his specific tasks, the release lists oversight of the estate’s works master plan, notably the fire-safety and security works on the central body of the château that began in late 2024 and are due to continue until 2031. The ministry describes it as the largest building project the establishment has undertaken since its creation. It also mentions restoring the historic decors and gardens, supporting the craft trades involved (gardeners, fountain keepers, gilders) and mobilising patrons.
The ministry sets out the challenges ahead as ecological transition, strengthening the security of the collections, conserving heritage under climate change, diversifying visitors, securing the provenance of the collections and developing patronage.
Career background
Per the ministry, Cerutti is a former inspector general of finance who became chief executive of Sotheby’s France in 2007 and later global chief executive of Christie’s, where it credits him with exceptional sales including that of Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi. It says he became president of the Pinault Collection in 2025 and held the post until March this year. The Art Newspaper, citing Le Monde, reports that disagreements with François Pinault over financial discipline and the pace of acquisitions preceded his departure; that account is the outlet’s own and does not appear in the ministry’s release.
The Art Newspaper also describes Cerutti as 60 and a graduate of the École nationale d’administration (ENA), and notes that Versailles faces mounting budgetary pressure and a growing need for support from wealthy patrons.
Practical information
Takes office: 9 November 2026. Institution: Établissement public du château, du musée et du domaine national de Versailles.
Sources: Ministry of Culture press release, 4 November 2026; The Art Newspaper, 5 November 2026.
This article was prepared with AI assistance and reviewed by the Honargardi editorial team.