Guillaume Cerutti will take charge of the Château de Versailles on 9 November after roles at Christie’s and the Pinault Collection. His appointment brings him back to public cultural administration. The palace is carrying out a 200 million euro restoration and security programme that runs until 2031, alongside changes to its operating and investment budgets.
France has chosen Guillaume Cerutti to run the Château de Versailles, the former royal palace and museum outside Paris. President Emmanuel Macron’s appointment was announced on 4 November. Cerutti begins on 9 November, succeeding Christophe Leribault, who left in February to lead the Louvre museum. The incoming president is 60 and previously worked in both public cultural institutions and the art market.[1], [2]
The presidency includes responsibility for a continuing conservation and security project. France’s culture ministry values the programme at 200 million euros and dates it from 2024 to 2031. Work covers fire protection and the safety of buildings and collections. The palace received about 8.4 million visitors last year and employs roughly 1,000 people. Its 2027 budget cuts operating support by 3 million euros while allocating 7 million euros to investment.[1]
Cerutti’s earlier public posts included managing director of the Centre Pompidou, the Paris cultural institution, and chief of staff to the culture minister. He later led the French operation of Sotheby’s auction house and became Christie’s chief executive in 2017. He held that role until January 2025, then headed the Pinault Collection, the private art collection with exhibition venues in Paris and Venice. He left that presidency in the spring after about 13 months.[1]
