Boucheron CEO Hélène Poulit-Duquesne elected chair of French luxury federation Comité Colbert.

The Comité Colbert, the leading federation for French luxury brands, has unanimously elected Hélène Poulit-Duquesne as its new chair. Currently serving as the CEO of Maison Boucheron, Poulit-Duquesne will succeed Laurent Boillot and assume her new responsibilities in June 2026. She will work closely with Bénédicte Épinay, the general delegate of the Comité Colbert.

Poulit-Duquesne has been an active long-term member of the Comité Colbert. As CEO of Maison Boucheron, she joined the association's board of directors in 2018 and was subsequently appointed vice president in May 2022. This extensive internal experience positions her well to lead the federation into its next phase.

Reflecting on her new role, Poulit-Duquesne stated that her primary objective is to maintain momentum on several key fronts for the organization. Her stated roadmap focuses on "promoting our expertise and supporting our industries, collectively promoting our values and our Houses internationally, and placing sustainable development, a future challenge for the planet and our professions, at the heart of our strategies."

Beyond her specific experience with the Comité Colbert, Poulit-Duquesne brings significant leadership experience from across the global luxury sector. She has held senior positions in three of the largest luxury groups worldwide: LVMH, Richemont, and Kering. A graduate of ESSEC Business School, she began her career at LVMH before moving to Cartier International (Richemont Group) in 1998. In 2010, she joined Cartier’s Executive Committee as director of international marketing before becoming CEO of Boucheron (Kering Group) at the end of 2015.

Poulit-Duquesne emphasized the universal role of French luxury, stating that each member house "beyond its individual performance... has a greater role to play: that of defending values that are universal and cement the foundation of our collective: the values of art, culture, and craftsmanship, the hand of man. Because they have meaning, they give meaning. They enrich the lives of millions of people and inspire them to dream.”

The Comité Colbert, founded in 1954 by Jean-Jacques Guerlain, operates as a non-profit association recognized as being of public interest. Its goal is to collaboratively promote the French art of living internationally and to preserve and transmit French expertise and creativity. Today, the association unites 98 French luxury houses and 17 cultural institutions.

The membership of the Comité Colbert spans a wide spectrum of French luxury labels, including fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Givenchy, and Balenciaga; fine wines and champagnes like Château Lafitte Rothschild and Perrier Jouët; perfume brands including Frédéric Malle and Guerlain; jewellers such as Van Cleef & Arpels and Messika; and master chefs and restaurants like Yannick Alléno and Guy Savoy. Bénédicte Épinay expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, adding that they are "committed to supporting its development, honouring its expertise, and amplifying its international influence."