GS1 France Appoints Business Transformation Expert Laura Barnac as New Executive Chair

GS1, the global standards organization renowned for underpinning barcode and QR Code technology, has officially announced the appointment of Laura Barnac as the new Executive Chair of its French division.

Ms. Barnac brings a wealth of experience as a specialist in business transformation, having successfully spearheaded projects for prominent multinational corporations such as Unilever and LVMH, alongside mid-cap companies including Daregal. Her entrepreneurial spirit is evidenced by her co-founding of the start-ups Voka and Melco, both dedicated to innovation and marketing. Furthermore, she has contributed her expertise as an adviser to Bpifrance and Sakina M'Sa, and previously managed the online operations for Moët Hennessy.

Having served as a respected member of the GS1 France Board of Directors since 2019, Laura Barnac now steps into her new role, succeeding Didier Veloso, who held the Executive Chair position for the past four years. Her upcoming tenure is poised to be significantly shaped by a pivotal strategic initiative: the progressive migration from traditional barcodes to advanced, augmented QR Codes.

Bertrand de Senneville and Philippe Lemoine, co-chairs of the Supervisory Board of GS1 France, warmly welcomed the appointment, stating, "Laura Barnac possesses impeccable credentials and a nuanced understanding of the challenges ahead." They further emphasized her leadership qualities, adding, "She has also demonstrated throughout her career a leadership style grounded in listening and the human element, which will undoubtedly help accelerate and amplify the transformation currently underway within the organization."

Established in 1973 in the United States with the groundbreaking invention of the barcode, and subsequently rolled out across Europe in 1977, GS1 operates as a not-for-profit international standards organization. Its core mission is to ensure robust technological coordination among all stakeholders in commerce, particularly concerning product identification tools. Globally, GS1 boasts a vast network of over 2 million member companies, with its French division alone bringing together more than 58,000 member companies.