Eric Gareau

Chief Executive Officer Claranova

Last Reviewed: September 26, 2026

Executive Summary

Eric Gareau is Chief Executive Officer of Claranova, the Paris-based software publisher whose Avanquest products cover PDF document tools, PC utilities and security, and photo software, sold in more than 160 countries. He was appointed in April 2024 after running Avanquest, the division that had become the group’s largest contributor to operating results after he moved it to subscription sales. His time as group CEO has been a period of contraction and focus. Claranova sold its PlanetArt personalised-products business and its US non-core operations, moved its shares to Euronext Growth Paris, and now presents itself as a SaaS software publisher.

Career Highlights

• Chief Executive Officer of Claranova since 15 April 2024, succeeding Pierre Cesarini, and still CEO of the Avanquest division.
• CEO of Avanquest since 2021, leading its move to a subscription-based sales model.
• CEO of Lulu Software from its inception in 2009; joined Claranova when it acquired Lulu in 2018.
• Led the group as it disposed of Avanquest North America LLC (October 2025), received the final escrow payment from the PlanetArt sale (July 2026) and moved its listing to Euronext Growth Paris (February 2026).
• In April 2026 announced a restructuring built around AI adoption, cutting about 20% of the workforce while creating new specialist AI roles.

Professional Journey

Gareau is Canadian and a graduate of the Université du Québec à Montréal. Claranova describes him as having more than 25 years of leadership experience in the sales and marketing of software and consumer goods.

In 2009 he became chief executive of Lulu Software, a PDF software business, and led it from its start. Claranova acquired Lulu Software in 2018 and Gareau joined the group. In 2021 he became CEO of Avanquest, Claranova’s software publishing and distribution division. There he moved the business from one-off licence sales to subscriptions, and Claranova credits that shift with making Avanquest the largest single contributor to group operating results.

On 15 April 2024 Claranova named him group Chief Executive Officer with immediate effect, replacing Pierre Cesarini. The appointment came after a governance overhaul in which five new directors joined a six-person board and the company refinanced debt that was about to fall due. Chairman Marc Goldberg called it “a new beginning for Claranova” and described Gareau as “a company insider with a strong track record in profitably managing operations”. Gareau kept the Avanquest role and was to move to Paris with his family later that year.

The group he took over was a three-part portfolio: PlanetArt in personalised products and e-commerce, Avanquest in software, and myDevices in the Internet of Things. Since then it has become a software company. PlanetArt was sold; Claranova confirmed in July 2026 that it had received the last USD 10 million, held in escrow for twelve months. The US non-core operation, Avanquest North America LLC, was sold at the end of October 2025, and myDevices has been under a sale mandate since November 2024. In February 2026 the shares moved from the regulated Euronext Paris market to Euronext Growth Paris, which the company said suited its current size. In January 2026 it merged the Avanquest and group executive committees into one body around Gareau.

In April 2026 Gareau announced that Claranova would build AI further into its operations and products. The plan cut about a fifth of the workforce, employees and consultants alike, while adding specialist roles in AI integration. “AI does not replace human ambition; it opens new avenues of growth and redefines the skills required to achieve it,” he said. For the fiscal year to June 2026, the group’s first full year as a pure software publisher, Claranova reported revenue of EUR 94 million, down 12% like for like. Its Document (PDF) and Utilities businesses grew, while the advertising-driven and photo lines declined.

Education

Université du Québec à Montréal

Graduate; the company does not state the degree or field.