Julie Walbaum

Julie Walbaum is a prominent business executive known for her role as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Maisons du Monde, a leading French home furnishings retailer. She has held this position since July 2018, where she has been instrumental in overseeing the company's strategic direction and operations.

Professional Background

Early Career: Before becoming CEO, Walbaum served as the Executive Director for Digital, Customer Marketing, Customer Care, and Shipping at Maisons du Monde. In this role, she was responsible for the company's e-commerce platforms and customer service strategies.1 2
Previous Experience: Walbaum has significant experience in management consulting, having worked for 11 years at McKinsey & Company and Deloitte Consulting. Additionally, she spent two years at Rocket Internet, where she developed the French subsidiary of Westwing, an online home goods retailer.1 4
Education: She is a graduate of ESSEC Business School and holds an MBA from INSEAD Business School.1

Recent Developments

In January 2023, it was announced that Walbaum would step down as CEO of Maisons du Monde, with François-Melchior de Polignac taking over the role. This transition followed a challenging period for the company, which reported a decline in sales2 but still maintained stronger figures compared to pre-pandemic levels.2

Leadership in Social Responsibility

Walbaum also serves as the President of the Maisons du Monde Foundation, a position she assumed in June 2024. The foundation focuses on environmental initiatives such as forest preservation and wood recycling. Under her leadership, the foundation aims to enhance its impact on societal issues related to sustainability.3 5