Salomé replaces Mact Productions’ Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre who is leaving to focus on producing.

Director Jean-Paul Salomé has been elected president of France’s powerful film export body Unifrance, replacing producer Antoine de Clermont-Tonnerre who is stepping down after a second two-year stint in the role.

Unifrance said in a statement that a 50-member committee had voted unanimously for Salomé. Producer Raphael Berdugo of Cité Films was also in the running for the position.

Salomé, 53, is best known internationally for the Sophie Marceau-starring Belphegor, Phantom of the Louvre and The Adventures of Arsène Lupin, starring Romain Duris and Kristin Scott Thomas.

He is currently working on post-production of his latest film Je fais le mort, a police comedy starring Francois Damiens and Geraldine Nakache.

Prior to taking on the Unifrance presidency, Salomé was president of the Association of Authors, Directors and Producers (L’ARP) from 2004 to 2012.