Europe’s leading premium beauty retailer, the DOUGLAS Group, will have a new chief executive on 1 November 2026. Jean-Marc Bellaiche has been appointed Chief Executive Officer for a four-year term, succeeding Sander van der Laan, who has decided to retire after a 36-year career in international retail.
FAKTA
- Jean-Marc Bellaiche becomes CEO of the DOUGLAS Group on 1 November 2026, for a four-year term.
- He succeeds Sander van der Laan, who is retiring after 36 years in international retail, including four years with the DOUGLAS Group.
- The appointment was made by the Supervisory Board of Douglas AG and announced on 14 October 2026 in Düsseldorf.
- Bellaiche, 56, previously led Printemps Group as CEO from 2020 and most recently led luxury resort operator Sani/Ikos Group.
- The DOUGLAS Group operates in 22 European countries, with around 1,970 stores and online platforms under the Douglas, Nocibé, Parfumdreams and Niche Beauty brands.
DOUGLAS new CEO Bellaiche: a carefully prepared transition
Supervisory Board Chairman Henning Kreke said the leadership change had been prepared thoughtfully and carefully to ensure a smooth and professional transition. He said the group regretted van der Laan’s decision to retire, while respecting his choice after a long and successful career, and described him as an outstanding leader who played a pivotal role in the group’s development.
Kreke said Bellaiche brings extensive experience in international retail and luxury, with a strong track record across beauty, premium department stores, digital transformation, brand building and strategy. The board expects him to build on recent progress, with even more focus on customer-centricity, beauty brand partnerships and operational excellence.
Who is Jean-Marc Bellaiche?
Bellaiche began his career at Boston Consulting Group in 1993, eventually becoming managing director and global leader of its Luxury, Fashion and Beauty sector. In 2014 he joined Tiffany & Co. as senior vice president and executive committee member, before holding senior 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. During his five-year tenure, he strengthened the French department store operator’s positioning, expanded its international and omnichannel activities and improved operating profitability, according to the DOUGLAS Group. He most recently served as CEO of luxury resort operator Sani/Ikos Group.
“I am particularly excited to join the Group at such an important moment in the evolution of the beauty industry,” Bellaiche said. He pointed to the group’s omnichannel footprint, large base of loyal customers and close relationships with beauty brands, and said he looked forward to building on those strengths with the management team and colleagues across 22 European countries.
What van der Laan leaves behind
Van der Laan joined DOUGLAS in October 2022 and oversaw a major transformation of the business, including changes to its category and exclusive-brand strategies, store network, supply chain and digital platforms. The company also returned to the stock market with its 2024 listing.
“I am incredibly grateful for my time at the DOUGLAS Group,” van der Laan said, noting that he had worked with around 20,000 colleagues and that the decision to step down had not been easy.
What comes next for DOUGLAS
Bellaiche takes the helm as the group continues to sharpen its omnichannel strategy — combining stores and online retail — and seeks to strengthen its partnerships with beauty brands. His background spans both luxury retail and digital business, a combination the board clearly sees as central to the next phase of the group’s growth.
For customers, the change at the top is unlikely to be visible overnight. For the industry, however, the appointment of a chief executive with experience across beauty, department stores, technology and luxury resorts signals a group preparing for a rapidly changing market, where service, brand relationships and digital experience matter as much as the store itself. Further details are available at Watan News.
