PARIS — Transformation continues at Villa Noailles, the organizer of the International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories of Hyères.
On Thursday, the association revealed the election of Valérie Duport as its president, succeeding Pascale Mussard, who held the position for 10 years and will remain on the board.
Duport, a veteran communications executive, was most recently chief communications and image officer at Kering until 2024. Prior to that, she had a 27-year career at Chanel. She currently serves as adviser to several major institutions and companies.
In a statement, Villa Noailles’ new president said the organization was “writing a new chapter in a remarkable story” after the centenary of the Villa, the fashion festival’s 40th anniversary last year and Design Parade marking 20 years.
“These milestones reflect the strength and enduring vitality of a unique cultural project, driven by teams whose commitment and energy I would like to recognize and commend,” Duport continued. “More than ever, our times call for freedom, creativity, and boldness. It is our responsibility to nurture, support, and bring to light the talents of the next generation of designers and creators.”
Her appointment follows the nomination of Hugo Lucchino as managing director of the association last year.
One of the new president’s priorities is securing its long-term financial stability, particularly shoring up its economic model balancing public and private funding, as the association continues to pursue its debt reduction plan, part of a three-year financial recovery strategy.
A 2025 audit by the Ministry of Culture’s general inspectorate of cultural affairs highlighted a debt of 3.8 million euros in the association’s financial results for 2023, which has since been partially paid off.
The organization also unveiled changes to its board alongside Duport’s nomination.
Pascal Morand, executive vice president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode, has been elected secretary, while Renaud Sabari, founder of artistic production agency Arter, becomes its treasurer.
Villa Noailles also named new board members: Alexandra Van Houtte, founder and president of Tagwalk; Émilie Hammen, director of the Palais Galliera fashion museum, and Sophie-Justine Lieber, who is general manager of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and École Camondo.
Also new are Hervé Lemoine, president of the Manufactures Nationales, Sèvres & Mobilier National; Stanislas Colodiet, director of Marseille-based Cirva international center for glass and plastic arts, and art historian and curator Cloé Perrone, who is a descendent of Charles and Marie-Laure de Noailles.
The next edition of the International Festival of Fashion, Photography and Accessories of Hyères is slated for Oct. 15 to 18.
