The executive was previously operations director for the brand and succeeds CEO Laetitia Mergui who exited in February.

PARIS — Lemaire has brought Clarisse Godbillon back into its fold as managing director.

Formerly chief operations officer for the French brand, the new top executive rejoined the company in October after a year at Jacquemus. She succeeds Laetitia Mergui, who held the title of chief executive officer and exited in February after almost four years.

“Our independence rests on the economic strength of the company and the careful management of its development. Growth is not an end in itself; it must enable us to create and produce better,” declared artistic directors and majority shareholders Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran. “Clarisse Godbillon embodies the house’s purpose and carries its fundamental principles with conviction.”

A graduate of HEC Paris and Sciences Po Paris, Godbillon cut her teeth in fusion acquisition and business development before evolving towards strategic development advisory in fashion. After joining Lemaire in 2020 as chief financial officer, she was elevated to COO in 2023.

“We are opening a new chapter for the house, with a clear ambition: to ensure its vitality, longevity and independence, both cultural and economic,” Godbillon said. “We want to nurture what makes us unique: the quality and design of our products, the power of our spaces to inspire, and the attention we give to the experience of our clients and collaborators.”

Her appointment comes as Lemaire continues to build its international presence. In January, the brand opened its largest flagship to date in Shanghai , followed by a third Parisian store in the Galerie de Montpensier arcade that border the Palais-Royal garden.

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