Douglas Group Appoints Jean-Marc Bellaiche as CEO, Sander van der Laan to Retire

The DOUGLAS Group, Europe's leading premium beauty retailer, announced on October 14, 2026, that Jean-Marc Bellaiche will become its new Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2026, for a four-year term. He succeeds Sander van der Laan, who has decided to retire after a 36-year career in international retail, including four years with the DOUGLAS Group. The Supervisory Board of Douglas AG appointed Bellaiche, citing his extensive experience in international retail and luxury.

Dr. Henning Kreke, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said, "This important change in the leadership at the top of the company has been prepared very thoughtfully and carefully, ensuring a smooth and professional transition." He added, "We truly regret Sander van der Laan's decision to retire, while fully respecting his choice after a long and successful career. With his departure, the DOUGLAS Group loses an outstanding leader and highly experienced retail executive who has played a pivotal role in the successful development of the Group." The announcement was reported by NEWMEDIAWIRE.

Bellaiche, 56, a French national, began his career at Boston Consulting Group in 1993, where he became Managing Director and Global Leader of the Luxury, Fashion and Beauty sector. In 2014, he joined Tiffany & Co. as Senior Vice President and a member of the Executive Committee. He later held senior leadership and board positions at technology companies Contentsquare and Arianee. After a decade in the United States, he returned to Europe in 2020 to become CEO of Printemps Group, the iconic French department store chain. During his five-year mandate, he strengthened Printemps's distinctiveness and customer-centricity, introduced more exclusivities in the assortment, accelerated its international and omnichannel development, and improved operating profitability. For the last year, he served as CEO of the luxury resort operator Sani/Ikos Group.

Van der Laan joined the DOUGLAS Group in October 2022. Since then, he has driven the transformation of the Dusseldorf-based company into a true omnichannel business and implemented significant strategic, operational, and structural improvements. Key achievements include a new category and exclusive-brands strategy, a comprehensive update of the store-format and network strategy, a reorganization of the Group's supply chain, further development of digital platforms, implementation of a comprehensive ESG strategy, and harmonization of internal processes. In 2024, the company was listed on the stock exchange. Van der Laan also introduced the purpose 'Make life more beautiful'.

Bellaiche said, "I am particularly excited to join the Group at such an important moment in the evolution of the beauty industry. The DOUGLAS Group plays a leading role in the European premium beauty market and has a manifold of unique assets, including an outstanding omnichannel footprint, a large base of loyal customers, and an attractive assortment based on close relationships with beauty brands." He added that he looks forward to building on these strengths with the management team and colleagues across 22 European countries, while driving the innovations needed to succeed in a rapidly changing market environment.

The DOUGLAS Group, with commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBE, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty, operates around 1,970 stores and generated sales of 4.58 billion euros in the financial year 2024/2025, employing more than 19,900 people across Europe. The company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. For further information, visit the DOUGLAS Group Website.

This leadership transition matters because Bellaiche's background in luxury, digital transformation, and brand building could accelerate the DOUGLAS Group's omnichannel strategy, impacting the broader beauty retail industry. His experience at Tiffany & Co. and Printemps suggests a focus on premium brand partnerships and customer-centric innovation, which may influence how competitors in Europe and beyond approach the premium beauty market. Van der Laan's retirement marks the end of a transformative era, but the carefully planned succession aims to ensure continuity and growth. The change at the top of Europe's leading premium beauty retailer could signal new directions in assortment, digital experience, and international expansion, affecting brands, consumers, and investors. The original release can be viewed on www.newmediawire.com.