Guillaume Cerutti is expected to take over as president of the Palace of Versailles, ending eight months of interim leadership. His appointment is due to be approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, according to three people familiar with the process. The Élysée did not respond to POLITICO’s requests for comment.
The choice was made by President Emmanuel Macron on the proposal of Culture Minister Catherine Pégard. It follows months of speculation about the role, with several names discussed. National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet was among those mentioned and had to deny that she would take the position.
Cerutti is a graduate of France’s École nationale d’administration and began his career at the General Inspectorate of Finance. In the early 2000s, he headed the office of Culture Minister Jean-Jacques Aillagon before returning to the finance ministry as director general of the DGCCRF, France’s consumer and competition authority.
He later moved into the art market, working first for Sotheby’s and then for rival auction house Christie’s. He went on to lead Christie’s worldwide and serve as president of the Pinault Collection.
Sources: Politico Europe.