Dominique Thillaud has been at the helm of Compagnie des Alpes since 2021, leading one of Europe’s largest leisure and tourism groups through a period of deep transformation.
He leads one of Europe’s major leisure and tourism groups at a time when the sector is undergoing significant economic, environmental and social changes. His appointment reflects the company’s ambition to adapt its historical model to evolving market conditions.
An engineer by training, Dominique Thillaud is a graduate of École Polytechnique and École des Ponts et Chaussées. He previously held senior management roles within large infrastructure and concession groups, notably Vinci, where he developed expertise in long-term asset management, operational performance and regulated environments.
Compagnie des Alpes operates a diversified portfolio combining mountain resorts, including La Plagne and Les Arcs, with leisure parks such as Parc Astérix and Futuroscope. Under Thillaud’s leadership, the group has continued to pursue a strategy aimed at reducing seasonality by developing year-round activities in mountain destinations while strengthening the performance of its leisure parks.
Several structural issues frame his mandate. Climate change increasingly affects winter tourism, leading the group to invest in adaptation measures and environmental programs. At the same time, like many tourism operators, Compagnie des Alpes faces challenges related to employment conditions for seasonal workers and rising operating costs. Pricing strategies, particularly for ski passes and park tickets, are also regularly discussed in public debate, balancing investment needs with affordability.
Within this context, Thillaud has emphasized sustainability, operational efficiency and selective diversification as long-term priorities. His leadership approach is characterized by continuity rather than rupture, focusing on gradual transformation and risk management.
Dominique Thillaud’s role illustrates the complexity of managing large leisure assets in a changing economic and environmental landscape, where long-term resilience has become a central objective.
Anecdotes
A former colleague once noted that Dominique Thillaud is known for visiting sites early in the morning, before public opening hours, to observe operations quietly and speak directly with on-site teams. It reflects his preference for first-hand understanding over headline-making gestures.
