Lagardère Travel Retail names Frédéric Chevalier as CEO alongside Dag Rasmussen
Frédéric Chevalier, currently Deputy CEO and appointed CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail effective July 1st, 2025
Lagardère Travel Retail has appointed Frédéric Chevalier as Chief Executive Officer effective July 1, where he will serve alongside Chairman & CEO Dag Rasmussen in a dual leadership structure.
Chevalier, who joined the travel retailer in 2006 and has served as Deputy CEO since July 2024, will oversee worldwide operations with all Executive Committee members reporting directly to him. The appointment was made on Rasmussen's recommendation by Arnaud Lagardère, Chairman & CEO of Lagardère SA.
"Frédéric has played a central role alongside Dag in Lagardère Travel Retail's transformation over recent years," said Arnaud Lagardère. "He was a key architect of the structural integration of the company's three business lines, a major milestone in the implementation of Lagardère Travel Retail's long-term strategy. His experience over the course of almost 20 years with the company and his widely recognized skills, both internally and externally, makes him the natural choice for this prominent role alongside Dag in steering Lagardère Travel Retail’s continued growth over the years ahead.”
Dag Rasmussen, Chairman & CEO of Lagardère Travel Retail
Rasmussen praised Chevalier's qualifications for the role, citing his deep knowledge of the business and leadership in its transformation. “I am delighted that Frédéric Chevalier has been appointed to join me in leading Lagardère Travel Retail into its next era of growth,” he said. “Frédéric’s in-depth knowledge of our business, his pivotal role in its transformation, and his strong leadership make him uniquely qualified to lead the next phase of our journey – focusing on the next steps, leveraging our strengths, preserving our unique corporate culture, and meeting the challenges of a constantly evolving environment. He embodies our commitment to operational excellence and to our founding principles. I know that in his new role he will drive our strategy with clarity, ambition and a deep sense of responsibility toward our teams, our partners, and our shareholders.”
The leadership change comes as Lagardère Travel Retail continues strong momentum, with revenue nearly tripling over the past decade and 16% sales growth in 2024. Recent expansion includes new contracts in Frankfurt, Hamburg, Belfast and Nice, plus a joint venture partnership at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.
Arnaud Lagardère, Chairman & CEO of Lagardère SA
Global growth has continued with openings across Auckland, Lima, Sydney, Antalya, Kigali and other locations. The company operates over 4,970 stores across airports, railway stations and other concessions in 51 countries, generating €7.6 billion (US$8.75 billion) in sales in 2024.
“I am honored to take over Dag’s day-to-day responsibilities and to support him closely in leading Lagardère Travel Retail into its new phase of expansion. I’m grateful for the trust placed in me by Arnaud Lagardère and Dag and have full confidence in our teams and their ability to deliver on our ambitions. While staying consistent in our strategy, we must remain agile, responsive and willing to adapt to change. Our direction is clear: to continue creating value for our partners, and memorable retail and dining experiences for travelers, through a constant drive for excellence.”
