ARMOR Group has appointed Christophe André as ARMOR-IIMAK’s new Chief Executive Officer, effectively from 1 September 2026. He succeeded Christian Lefort, who will retire at the end of November after five years of leading the company.
Hubert de Boisredon, Chairman of ARMOR-IIMAK and Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Nantes-based ARMOR GROUP, in welcoming Christophe said:
“I am delighted to welcome Christophe André to our team. Combining extensive experience in senior executive leadership roles within international organizations with a deep understanding of our industry, he is ideally positioned to support ARMOR-IIMAK’s continued growth and development.”
Boisredon continues, “ARMOR-IIMAK’s DNA is deeply rooted in a pioneering and growth-oriented mindset. Our recent expansion into Australia sets us apart from our competitors, as we are the only manufacturer with an operational presence in the region. We also firmly believe that future growth will come from Southeast Asia, where we are currently exploring several opportunities to strengthen our local footprint. I have complete confidence in Christophe André’s ability to successfully lead these next stages of development for ARMOR-IIMAK.”
A graduate of Telecom Paris, ESSEC Business School and INSEAD, Christophe André, began his career at Nortel Networks. He then spent five years at Rohm and Haas, where he ultimately served as EMEA General Manager of the Packaging and Converting Division, followed by four years at Arjowiggins. Between 2012 and 2021, he held several leadership positions within the French chemical group Arkema, including serving as a member of the Group Executive Committee. Most recently, he served five years as Chief Executive Officer of Vynova Group.
“I am extremely pleased and excited to join ARMOR-IIMAK. I am committed to strengthening our leadership through innovation, entrepreneurial agility and ARMOR-IIMAK’s exceptional expertise in serving our partners. I strongly believe in the power of teamwork. Together, we will write the next chapter in ARMOR-IIMAK’s history,” comments Christophe André, Chief Executive Officer of ARMOR-IIMAK.
Current Strong Momentum and Future Expansion for ARMOR-IIMAK
Recognised as an essential business during the COVID-19 crisis, ARMOR-IIMAK manufactures thermal transfer ribbons used to print product traceability information. These solutions are used across a wide range of sectors and applications, including on blood sample tubes in healthcare, expiration date labels on food packaging, and numerous construction materials. It is estimated that four out of every ten barcode or QR code labels worldwide are printed using an ARMOR-IIMAK consumable.
Since partnering with Astorg in 2022, ARMOR-IIMAK has continued to strengthen its position as the global market leader, supported by a shared focus on the company’s growth and international expansion. Currently, the company employs 1,500 people across 30 sites worldwide and, in early July 2026, announced the opening of a new facility in Australia.
“Christophe’s broad global perspective, deep understanding of our markets, and collaborative leadership style make him the ideal person to lead ARMOR-IIMAK into its next phase of growth,” said Christian Lefort. “I am confident that he will continue to strengthen our momentum and support our teams, customers, and partners around the world.”
