Philippe Jost, General Georgelin's right-hand man, succeeds him to oversee the reconstruction of Notre-Dame

“The presidential choice is not only a decision of continuity, but also a mark of loyalty to the general,” the Elysée clarified to AFP, confirming on Thursday the appointment of Mr. Jost, deputy director of the establishment responsible for this site, a polytechnician by training and who has spent his entire career in the Defense sector.

General Georgelin, former chief of staff of the armed forces, was appointed by President Emmanuel Macron in April 2019, after the gigantic fire which destroyed a large part of the cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic art known in around the world and which attracted 12 million visitors a year.

By setting a five-year objective for the restoration, the Head of State had chosen a "strategist", capable of deciding in the many arbitrations between the trades involved in an extremely complex site and the very diverse interests.

Very attached to religious heritage, the general was known for his strength of work but also for his harshness and his direct relationship with the companions of the site, whom he led his soldiers like an officer.

He died accidentally on August 18 in Ariège, while hiking in the Pyrenees, a few days before his 75th birthday.

A national tribute was paid to him on August 25 at the Invalides, during which Emmanuel Macron had saluted the memory of a "workaholic", "leader of men" and "exemplary servant". On August 31, his family, his friends as well as the inhabitants of his native village of Aspet, in Haute-Garonne, had also paid him a last tribute, before his burial in this village.

Satisfaction

As deputy director of the public establishment in charge of the site of the reconstruction of Notre-Dame, Philippe Jost had acted since the death of the general. He is also renowned for his hard work and the bonds of trust he had with his predecessor, according to his entourage.

The announcement of its designation was welcomed with satisfaction by the teams at work, "very happy with this choice which we hoped for the smooth running of the project", reacted the public establishment, questioned by the AFP.

This former student of the Ecole polytechnique, general engineer of armaments, started in 1985 at the DGA (General Directorate of armaments). He was also trained at the Ecole du Louvre (1983-1986) and at the JF Kennedy School of Government in Boston (1998), which is part of Harvard University. He is married and a father.

The reopening of Notre-Dame is still scheduled for December 2024, after the Paris Olympics in the summer, which should not have any impact on the continuation of the work, according to the public establishment.

The date of December 8 for this reopening was advanced by the Elysée, General Georgelin himself, as well as by the diocese.