La Redoute appoints Fabien Versavau as new CEO

Fabien Versavau, formerly of Rakuten France, has joined La Redoute as its new CEO. He succeeds Philippe Berlan, who stepped down in July after more than two years at the helm.

Since 2018, Versavau served as the CEO of Rakuten France and executive director for Europe, where he notably completed the repositioning and diversification of the former Priceminister following its acquisition by Rakuten.

A graduate of ESC Clermont-Ferrand with prior experience at Ford and Renault, as well as LeGuide.com and SNCF Voyages International, Versavau also oversaw digital marketing at Le Figaro from 2011 to 2016 and was the general manager of the online ticketing portal Ticketac.com from 2013 to 2016.

Now fully owned by the Houzé family since 2022, La Redoute has tasked its new leader with defining a strategic roadmap aimed at supporting growth both domestically and internationally. This includes reinforcing its positioning in the home sector and optimizing performance.

“The strength of his background, his recognized expertise in e-commerce, and his ability to lead ambitious projects will be invaluable assets in ushering in a new chapter in La Redoute’s history,” stated Philippe Houzé and Nicolas Houzé, respectively the chairman of La Redoute and chairman of the executive board of the Galeries Lafayette Group. “We are confident that with the support of all employees, he will continue to strengthen the company’s leadership in the home market and expand its ready-to-wear presence, all while maintaining its long-standing spirit of innovation.”

This appointment comes at a pivotal time in La Redoute’s history. The former mail-order catalog turned e-commerce site announced last November a refocus on its home offerings, which last year accounted for nearly 60 % of its business volume, surpassing its historically core apparel sector.

With nine standalone stores, 50 corners, and claiming 8.8 million active customers worldwide, La Redoute announced in mid-July the appointment of a new human resources director, choosing Antoine Musereau to succeed Tristan Dubois.