Pierre Gendronneau, deputy director of the Festival d’Avignonwill leave office on June 13, “for personal reasons” and following “accusations” of sexual and sexist violence in a previous position in another organization, his boss, Tiago Rodrigues said on Wednesday.
“We have announced today to the team of the festival the departure of Pierre Gendronneau delegated management functions, for personal reasons and to pursue other professional horizons,” said Tiago Rodrigues, director of the festival, confirming information from the website of Telerama. This departure “was taken by mutual agreement,” he said, without confirming if it is a contractual break. Pierre Gendronneau was appointed in February 2023.
He then intervenes that an internal investigation was “conducted in November and December” by the Egaé cabinet, led by Caroline de Haas. “Several independent lawyers”, solicited by the festival, concluded that “the investigation did not reveal proven facts of harassment or violence from Pierre Gendronneau during his work period at the festival,” continued Tiago Rodrigues.
“It became impossible for him”
This internal investigation had been decided “two days” after the festival was informed, in early November, that the Ministry of Culture triggered an article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedure targeting Pierre Gendronneau, in response to reports that had reached him, he explained.
Following Egaé’s investigation, “Pierre Gendronneau continued at his post. However, the fact that there are accusations towards him prior to his arrival at the Avignon Festival and other triggered surveys created a climate of suspicion towards him. This became impossible for him to carry out his mission, ”said Tiago Rodrigues.
Suspected facts of sexual harassment
The fall festival in Paris, where Pierre Gendronneau was the deputy of director Emmanuel Demarcy-Motta, also mandated the Egaé cabinet for an investigation. “Almost two years after her departure, in the fall of 2024, were pointed out to me by an employee who said he had been the victim of the acts of sexual harassment from Pierre Gendronneau,” said Emmanuel Demarcy-Motta.
“A report was made to the ministry. I asked to be able to talk about it with all the members of the festival team, and we have implemented a procedure to reach a diagnosis. But Pierre Gendronneau being no longer an employee, there is no contradictory, and no possible sanction within the fall festival, “he added.
Before 2023, Pierre Gendronneau was also a production manager at the national scene of Sénart and production director at the National Dramatic Center of Montreuil. The 79th edition of the Avignon Festival is scheduled for July 5 to 26.
