Nicolas Houzé fires nearly all of Galeries Lafayette's management team

Nearly ten months after the company's CEO Philippe Houzé appointed

his son Nicolas Houzé as president of Galeries Lafayette's department store division, almost all the top management committee has been sacked.

According to French newspaper Les Echos, the management team had been hired by Houzé's predecessor Paul Delaoutre, who resigned after holding his former position for ten years, before Houzé father placed his son at the helm of the company.

One survivor to stay on after the management cull is Michel Roulleau, the current deputy director general, who has reportedly been offered a position as adviser to the president. “He knows all the bosses in the luxury industry, it would be more difficult to break things off with him,” said one of the executive's from the group to Les Echos, highlighting that his relationship with individuals such as Bernard Arnault saved him from being dismissed.

Others have been asked to leave the company as soon as possible, such as sales director Christophe Cann, marketing director Anne-Maria Gaultier-Dreyfus, head of human resources Jean-Yves Remond, who has submitted his resignation and chief information officer Laurent Singer. Les Echos also reported that Nicolas brother, Guillaume Houzé, who is currently president of the foundation Galeries Lafayette is next in line to join the management team as director of brand image.

After selling its interest in the Monoprix varitey chain to Casino, Galeries Lafayette currently has substantial funding resources, although according to Planet Retail the company is now facing a series of ongoing issues which could effect future growth. Sales at its Parisian flagship store Galeries Lafayette Boulevard are thought to be struggling, while the middle market department store banner BHV is also said to be under performing.