Daniel Harari
Chief executive of Lectra
Daniel Harari is the chief executive of Lectra, the Paris-headquartered technology group that supplies software, cutting equipment, data and services to fashion, automotive and furniture companies. Under his leadership Lectra has grown through acquisitions such as Gerber in 2021 and has repositioned itself around SaaS, data and artificial intelligence.
| Role | Chief executive of Lectra |
|---|---|
| Organisation | Lectra, founded 1973, France |
| 2025 revenue | 507 million euros |
| Key acquisition | Gerber, 2021 |
| Strategy | Lectra 4.0, launched 2017 |
Who is Daniel Harari?
Daniel Harari leads Lectra as chief executive. Founded in 1973 and headquartered in France, Lectra is one of the main technology suppliers to the fashion industry, serving around 25,000 customers in more than 100 countries with over 2,800 employees. Harari was involved, alongside André Harari, in recapitalising the company in the early 1990s when it faced financial difficulties.
Career
Lectra was founded by the engineers Jean and Bernard Etcheparre. Its origins lie in computer-aided design and automated cutting for textiles and leather. Under Harari's leadership the company has expanded from equipment into software, data and services and has made a series of acquisitions:
- Kubix Lab, announced in January 2018
- Gerber, its long-standing rival, in 2021
- Neteven, Gemini and TextileGenesis
- Launchmetrics, adding brand performance intelligence
In 2017 Lectra launched its Lectra 4.0 strategy, which aims for leadership in fashion, automotive and furniture by 2030. For 2025 the company reported revenue of 507 million euros, including 89 million euros of SaaS revenue, with recurring revenue at 75 per cent of the total. In its first half 2026 results it confirmed its 2026 to 2028 ambitions.
Influence on the fashion business
Lectra's tools sit at the heart of how many brands and manufacturers design, develop and cut garments. Its combination of pattern-making software, product lifecycle tools, cutting rooms and marketplace and brand data makes it a link between design, production and sales. The Gerber acquisition consolidated two of the largest suppliers in the category.
Daniel Harari and technology
Under Harari, Lectra has embraced Industry 4.0 concepts and now describes itself as combining software, cutting equipment, data and services with advanced technologies, particularly agentic artificial intelligence. In September 2026 the company unveiled Apogy, which it presents as the first solution embedding agentic AI to reinvent fashion product development. Its Retviews service applies AI to competitive and trend intelligence.
Why it matters
For fashion companies, Lectra under Daniel Harari is an example of a traditional equipment maker turning into a software and data provider. Its strategy reflects a wider industry shift in which design, development, production and market intelligence are increasingly connected through shared data and AI.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Daniel Harari?
Daniel Harari is the chief executive of Lectra, a French technology group serving fashion, automotive and furniture companies. He was involved in recapitalising the company in the early 1990s and has led its expansion into software, data and AI.
What is Lectra doing with AI?
Lectra says it uses advanced technologies, particularly agentic artificial intelligence, across its offer. In September 2026 it unveiled Apogy, presented as the first solution embedding agentic AI in fashion product development.