This is a very timely end to the contract. A way to get out of a delicate episode without too much damage for the government. At a time when Caroline Leboucher, director of Atout France (the structure responsible for promoting French tourism), saw her management questioned by several employees, the executive decided not to reappoint the woman whose contract was ends on June 16.
The decision was announced this Tuesday, May 7 in the morning at the end of the interministerial tourism committee (CIT). The person concerned informed her teams around 9 a.m. and sent a press release announcing her resignation. “It is not without emotion that I will leave my position on June 16, with the feeling of duty accomplished thanks to the mobilization and commitment of all Atout France employees over the last five years,” she declares.
The agency was in the grip of tensions which reached their peak on April 19 with the circulation of an anonymous letter questioning the methods of Mr.me Leboucher and calling them “organized heist”. “We had to avoid new complaints”explains a Source within‘Atout France, who wishes to remain anonymous. The senior civil servant was recently targeted by six industrial tribunal disputes coupled with two criminal complaints.
“Slander campaign”
Contacted by The worldthe boss of Atout France rejects the term ” crisis ” or “deleterious climate”. She said to herself “not aware of the exact number of these disputes”, judging himself to be the victim of “campaign of slander” led mainly by a “handful of expatriate employees” opposed to its mobility plan. She also indicates that she warned Bercy a few months ago of her decision not to renew her mandate after five years at the head of the agency.
“Without defending it, because its management methods were undoubtedly questionable, the way the government is going about it is singularly lacking in elegance. The CIT meeting which took the decision not to renew her was held without the person concerned”, adds another Source close to the case. The latter believes that the authorities have allowed the situation to fester: “There is supervision, the responsibility lies with the ministers. »
Read also | Article reserved for our subscribers After a satisfactory year 2023, the tourism sector has its eyes fixed on the Paris Olympic Games
Add to your selections
The CIT was an opportunity for Matignon to announce at the same time a modernization of the agency − which has the status of an economic interest group (EIG) and employs a little more than 300 people − as well as an overhaul of its missions. To do this, the government is committed to ensuring that consultations take place with stakeholders in the sector (businesses, local elected officials, etc.) just after the Olympic Games, in September. The time frame is relatively short to lead to implementation at the end of 2024 or beginning of 2025.
You have 21.25% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
