PARIS — The head of Paris’s renowned Louvre Museum has officially stepped down following intense criticism over a brazen theft that saw criminals make off with French Crown jewels worth $102 million, according to an announcement from French President Emmanuel Macron’s office on Tuesday.
Presidential officials confirmed that Macron has accepted the resignation of Laurence des Cars, with the French leader commending her decision as “an act of responsibility at a time when the world’s largest museum needs calm and a strong new impetus to carry out major projects involving security upgrades, modernization” and other initiatives.
The audacious October robbery saw criminals successfully steal crown jewels valued at 88 million euros in under eight minutes during a weekend break-in at the planet’s most popular museum, sending shockwaves around the globe.
Des Cars had held the director position at the Louvre — considered among the most coveted roles in the museum industry — since 2021.
Following the theft, she immediately attempted to step down but was initially turned away by France’s culture minister.
“I saw a tragic, brutal, violent reality for the Louvre, and as the person in charge, after all the hard work done by the teams that day — it felt right to offer my resignation,” she explained in November.
The president expressed gratitude to des Cars “for her work and commitment” and indicated plans to offer her a different role centered on fostering collaboration between major museums worldwide, though the statement did not specify whether she has agreed to the new position.
