The DOUGLAS Group, Europe’s leading premium beauty retailer, will undergo a leadership change later this year. The Supervisory Board of Douglas AG has appointed Jean-Marc Bellaiche as Chief Executive Officer, effective November 1, 2026, for a four-year term. He succeeds Sander van der Laan, who has decided to retire from executive management after a 36-year career in international retail, including four years with the Dusseldorf-based company.
Dr. Henning Kreke, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, said the transition had been prepared carefully to ensure a smooth and professional handover. He praised van der Laan as an outstanding leader who played a pivotal role in the Group’s development, while expressing regret over his retirement. Kreke also welcomed Bellaiche, citing his extensive experience in international retail and luxury, with a strong track record across beauty, premium department stores, digital transformation, brand building, and strategy. “We are convinced that he will build on the progress already made and put even more focus on customer-centricity, beauty brand partnerships and operational excellence,” Kreke said.
Bellaiche, a 56-year-old Frenchman, began his career at Boston Consulting Group in 1993, where he eventually became Managing Director and Global Leader of the Luxury, Fashion and Beauty sector. In 2014, he joined Tiffany & Co. as Senior Vice President and a member of the Executive Committee. He later held senior leadership and board 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, the iconic French department store chain. During his five-year mandate, he strengthened Printemps’s distinctiveness and customer-centricity, introduced more exclusivities, accelerated international and omnichannel development, and improved operating profitability. Most recently, he 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. “The DOUGLAS Group plays a leading role in the European premium beauty market and has a manifold of unique assets, including an outstanding omnichannel footprint, a large base of loyal customers, and an attractive assortment based on close relationships with beauty brands.” He added that he looks forward to building on these strengths with the management team and colleagues across 22 European countries, while driving the innovations needed to succeed in a rapidly changing market.
Van der Laan joined the DOUGLAS Group in October 2022. He drove the company’s transformation into a true omnichannel business and implemented significant strategic, operational, and structural improvements. Key achievements include a new category and exclusive-brands strategy, a comprehensive update of the store-format and network strategy, reorganization of the supply chain, further development of digital platforms, implementation of an ESG strategy, and harmonization of internal processes. In 2024, the company was listed on the stock exchange. He also introduced the corporate purpose “Make life more beautiful.” “After a 36-year career, including senior leadership roles at highly respected retail companies in Europe and the United States, I feel that the time is right to retire from executive management,” van der Laan said. “This is the right moment to hand over the reins to someone who can bring fresh thinking and new ideas.”
The DOUGLAS Group operates the commercial brands DOUGLAS, NOCIBE, Parfumdreams, and Niche Beauty, offering a premium range of selective and exclusive brands online and in around 1,970 stores. In the financial year 2024/2025, the Group generated sales of 4.58 billion euros and employed more than 19,900 people across Europe. Douglas AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. Further information is available on the DOUGLAS Group Website.
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