Jean-Marie Girier, the outgoing préfet of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, was named préfet of the Alpes-Maritimes at Thursday's Council of Ministers, taking over from Laurent Hottiaux, who departs after just over a year in the role to become préfet of the Pays de la Loire region.
Girier, 41, is one of France's youngest préfets and has a markedly political background compared with his predecessor. A founding member of La République En Marche, he served as Emmanuel Macron's campaign director during the 2017 presidential race, then worked as chief of staff to former interior minister Gérard Collomb before becoming préfet of the Territoire de Belfort in 2020, at the time the youngest préfet in France. He has since held the post in Vienne and, since late 2024, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques.
The Alpes-Maritimes préfecture said Girier had focused heavily on environmental issues in his outgoing role, including organising local water conferences and setting up a departmental committee on sustainable biomass management, alongside handling agricultural and public health matters.
Girier now takes charge of a department local commentators have described as sitting under particular political tension in recent months, a context his political background may prove suited to navigate.