PARIS — Galeries Lafayette has appointed Harold Israel to the newly created position of director of specialized activities.
Israel will report to newly appointed chief executive officer Arthur Lemoine, who took the helm in July, and will join the company’s executive committee.
The appointment highlights the legacy department store’s ambitions to sharpen its omnichannel strategy and expand key growth areas within its portfolio.
The new role has been designed to accelerate the development of strategic activities, including growing the Galeries Lafayette in-house brand, the commercial operations of galerieslafayette.com, and the promotion of the watches and jewelry category.
Israel’s role will be central to the group’s strategy to modernize its offering and strengthen its global brand awareness, with a focus on cross-channel growth and innovation as it seeks to reinforce its position in an increasingly competitive luxury retail landscape.
“The creation of this specialized activities division within the executive committee marks an important step in the evolution of our omnichannel strategy and in the modernization of our offering,” said Lemoine. “With the arrival of Harold Israel, we are strengthening our ability to develop strategic growth levers for the future and enrich the experience we offer our customers, building on the strength and uniqueness of our brand. His international perspective, global vision, and in-depth knowledge of our business will be valuable assets in achieving our ambitions.”
Israel brings more than three decades of experience across retail, luxury, and fashion, most recently as vice president of global image, communication and product at Berluti. At Berluti he previously held the position of president for the brand in Japan.
The executive has been recognized for combining strategic vision with operational expertise across global markets. Prior to Berluti, he held positions at Cartier in the U.S. and the family-owned French brand Et Vous, moving into key leadership positions at A.P.C, where he served as deputy CEO, and Marc Jacobs, where he served as CEO of Europe and the Middle East.
The creation of the new position comes amid leadership shifts at the retailer. When Lemoine stepped into his new role this summer, longtime CEO Nicolas Houzé moved into the position of executive chairman for the Galeries Lafayette Group.
Lemoine has been focused on transforming its omnichannel and digital offers, revamping its luxury positioning and creating new amenities to attract tourists.
The move comes as Galeries Lafayette continues to adapt to shifting consumer behaviors and the growing importance of digital channels. The department store group operates 50 stores in France and 11 international locations, alongside its e-commerce platform and off-price division, Galeries Lafayette L’Outlet.
As part of its international growth strategy, Galeries Lafayette opened its first store in Mumbai, India, in October, with a second outpost in Delhi slated for next year.
