Galeries Lafayette hires a new e-commerce director

What: Galeries Lafayette appoints Régis Pennel, founder of French fashion website L'Exception and former Céline executive, as e-commerce director in a transitional management role, bringing his thirteen years of digital retail expertise to the department store's online operations.

Why it is important: This leadership change signals Galeries Lafayette's focus on enhancing its digital operations, leveraging Pennel's experience in building premium online platforms to strengthen its position in the competitive e-commerce landscape.

Régis Pennel joins Galeries Lafayette's digital team, reporting to Guillaume Gellusseau, the company's marketing, digital, and communications director since 2020. With thirteen years of experience leading L'Exception, a premium multi-brand e-commerce platform, and four years at Céline as leather goods product director, Pennel brings valuable expertise in both digital retail and luxury products. The appointment comes as Galeries Lafayette manages a network of 19 owned stores and 38 franchises in France, plus ten international locations, with its e-commerce platform attracting 5.4 million monthly visitors. This transition follows L'Exception's recent acquisition by AA Investments, which also owns Smallable and Wethenew, and coincides with Galeries Lafayette's broader digital transformation efforts.

IADS Notes:
Régis Pennel's appointment as e-commerce director comes amid significant digital transformation at Galeries Lafayette. Following the closure of Bazarchic and as part of its €400 million investment plan, the group is strengthening its e-commerce operations, which currently attract 5.4 million monthly visitors. This move aligns with broader technological initiatives, including the adoption of Low Code solutions to enhance business applications.