Catherine Jacquet, most recently chief operating officer at Fear of God in Los Angeles and previously managing director of Lemaire, has been appointed chief executive officer of Isabel Marant, effective next month. The appointment marks a strategic bet on operational rigour and international scale for the Parisian label as it targets a new growth phase under majority owner Montefiore Investments.
Jacquet, a graduate of the Institut Français de la Mode, brings a career that spans both sides of the Atlantic and a range of brand scales — from heritage French houses to the sharp commercial machinery of American luxury casualwear. Her résumé includes senior roles at Courrèges, Sonia Rykiel, Paco Rabanne, and Maison Michel Paris, as well as product and marketing stints at Naf Naf and Levi Strauss & Co. This breadth, rather than a narrow vertical specialisation, appears to be precisely what Montefiore — which acquired a majority stake in Isabel Marant in 2022 — is banking on.
The company had initially targeted €500 million in revenue by 2026, up from approximately €300 million in 2022, a benchmark that now looks ambitious given the macroeconomic headwinds facing independent luxury houses. Jacquet’s experience scaling Fear of God from a cult label into a global franchise — complete with its Adidas partnership, Ermenegildo Zegna-backed tailoring line, and a rapidly expanding retail footprint — suggests she understands how to grow revenue without sanding away the idiosyncrasies that make a brand desirable.
“I have long admired the brand’s unique heritage and distinctive identity,” Jacquet said in a statement shared exclusively with WWD. “I look forward to working with the talented teams at Isabel Marant to write the next chapter of the company’s story.” Founder Isabel Marant called her a “proven leader with a strong understanding of our DNA and a clear vision to realise the company’s potential,” while Henri Topiol, president of the supervisory board, praised her “deep knowledge of the luxury market, significant operational expertise and hands-on experience in key international markets.”
Jacquet succeeds Anouck Duranteau-Loeper, who is stepping down after a decade at the helm to pursue other professional opportunities. According to market sources, Duranteau-Loeper is poised to join Saint Laurent as CEO Cédric Charbit reinforces his management team ahead of an expansion push, though her title and start date have not been confirmed. She will remain in her role until June to ensure an orderly transition.
The leadership change arrives at a pivotal moment for Isabel Marant. The label, founded in 1994, built its reputation on a specific strain of Parisian nonchalance — a boho sensibility that felt lived-in rather than styled. Its fall 2026 collection, described by WWD as “a high-energy urban collection filled with distressed denim, buttery leather and vintage-y pieces with an undone feel,” suggests the design identity is intact. The question now is whether that identity can travel further — into new markets, new categories, and a more competitive tier of the luxury ecosystem — without losing the grain that made it recognisable in the first place.
Release Details
- Effective Date: June 2026 (transition complete)
- Outgoing CEO: Anouck Duranteau-Loeper (10 years at the helm)
- New CEO: Catherine Jacquet (formerly COO at Fear of God, GM at Lemaire)
- Majority Owner: Montefiore Investments (acquired stake in 2022)
- 2022 Revenue: ~€300 million | Target: €500 million
