Kuoni France Group, a DERTOUR Group company, today announced a planned leadership transition. After 30 years at the head of the company, Emmanuel Foiry, Chairman of Kuoni France Group, will step down from his role on 31 December 2025. He will continue to serve as Strategic Advisor to the Chairman throughout 2026. Gonzague de Gélis, currently Chief Financial Officer of Kuoni France Group, has been appointed to succeed him as Chairman, effective 1 January 2026.
The transition marks a significant chapter in the company’s journey, highlighting its rich history as an iconic travel brand making travel dreams come true: in 2026, the Kuoni brand will celebrate its 120th anniversary, while Kuoni France will mark its 100th year of operations.
Leif Vase Larsen, CEO International at DERTOUR Group, said: “Thanks to Emmanuel Foiry’s exceptional leadership, Kuoni France Group has successfully navigated decades of change and growth, and we are profoundly grateful for his invaluable contribution. As Gonzague de Gélis takes the helm, we are excited about the company’s next chapter and are confident in its continued growth.”
Commenting on the appointment, Emmanuel Foiry stated: “I am confident that Gonzague de Gélis is the right leader to guide Kuoni France Group into its next chapter. His professional expertise and personal qualities are recognized across the company and the group. I leave with the assurance that the company will remain in excellent hands.”
Emmanuel Foiry joined Kuoni in 1996 as Chief Financial Officer, before assuming successive leadership positions including Chief Executive Officer and, in the early 2000s, Chairman. Over three decades, he steered the group through a period of sustained development and acquisitions—including Voice, Scanditours, Vacances Fabuleuses, Les Ateliers du Voyage, and Donatello—as well as multiple industry challenges. In 2013, Foiry led a management buyout that established Kuoni France as an independent entity, a period he has described as a career highlight. In 2018, Kuoni France joined DERTOUR Group, one of Europe’s leading tourism groups, where it has since delivered consistent growth and strengthened its position in the French travel market. Beyond his leadership within the company, Foiry has played an active role in the wider industry, notably as Vice President of SETO, the tour operators’ association.
Gonzague de Gélis brings significant expertise in finance and tourism management. A graduate of Centrale Nantes, he began his career with Thomas Cook in 2011, holding positions in controlling, revenue management, and product. He later held senior roles at Le Figaro, Les Maisons du Voyage, and Marco Vasco, before joining Kuoni France Group, a company of DERTOUR Group, as Chief Financial Officer in 2023. He successfully led the reorganization of the finance department, implemented new systems and processes, and strengthened collaboration with parent company DERTOUR Group.
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Background:
DERTOUR Group has its head office in Cologne, Germany, and is REWE Group’s travel and tourism division. As one of Europe’s leading travel groups, DERTOUR Group encompasses more than 180 companies and employs around 13,000 people in 16 European countries. Every year, millions of guests travel with one of the Group’s tour operators or specialists. DERTOUR Group includes tour operators such as DERTOUR, ITS, Meiers Weltreisen, Kuoni, Helvetic Tours, ITS Coop Travel, Billa Reisen, Koning Aap, Apollo, Exim Tours and Fischer, as well as around 2,000 travel agencies (such as DERTOUR, DERPART, Kuoni, Exim, and Fischer, plus franchises and partners), the hotel brands Sentido, Aldiana, and ananea and the online travel agency Prijsvrij Vakanties. The DERTOUR Group also offers on-site support: The company runs an agency network with 71 offices in 31 travel destinations. The staff in the destination agencies assist the guests of the DERTOUR Group from their arrival at their holiday destination until their departure. For more information, go to www.dertour-group.com.
Kuoni France Group is a prominent player in the tourism industry, offering an extensive array of travel options that establish Kuoni and its affiliated brands as leading tour operators. Specializing in guided tours, seaside vacations, tailor-made trips, and exceptional bespoke journeys, Kuoni France Group has been a part of the DERTOUR Group since March 2018. Today, the Kuoni France Group caters to a diverse range of travel desires through its generalist brand, a Luxury Travel range, and four specialist brands, each excelling in their respective fields. For more information, go to www.kuoni.fr/le-groupe-kuoni-france.