The takeover of Fayard (Hachette Livre) by its new shareholder, the Vivendi group of Vincent Bolloré, is taking place inexorably. No surprises or miracles. Isabelle Saporta, CEO of Fayard since June 2022, will be fired for refusing to give up a licensing agreement allowing the use of the house’s brand for the benefit of Eric Zemmour’s former publisher, Lise Boëll.
Marked very right-wing, the latter also published works by Philippe de Villiers and, according to The Obs, is preparing to sign with the president of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella. Lise Boëll was appointed general director of Editions Mazarine, a subsidiary created by Fayard in 1979, on February 22. But she wants its authors to be able to sign under the Mazarine/Fayard brand, thus benefiting from the reputation of the historic house.
The conflict has been escalating for weeks and the management of Hachette Livre has tried everything to get Isabelle Saporta to sign the document desired by Lise Boëll. The CEO of Fayard suggested, in vain, alternative solutions and refused a tripling of her salary. Convened on Friday March 8 by Stéphanie Ferran, deputy general director of Hachette Livre, and by the head of human relations, Isabelle Saporta remained in her position. According to an internal Fayard source, he was told bluntly: “Here are two documents: “There, you sign and you stay; there, you refuse and you get out.” » It is clearly the second solution that was chosen. Mme Saporta is summoned for an interview prior to her dismissal on March 20.
Fratricidal war in the direction of Plon
Within the publishing house, the 42 employees fear that the arrival of Lise Boëll and her string of far-right authors will harm Fayard’s image. Loyal to Isabelle Saporta, the majority of staff gave her their support in a letter sent, Thursday, March 7, to the management of Hachette Livre. “The uncertainties about the future of the Fayard and Mazarine brands and that of our CEO are already having very concrete effects on our daily lives in the company and on our relationships with our external partners, in particular the authors”, wrote the employees. Just like Isabelle Saporta, they demand “the complete separation of the Fayard and Mazarine brands”.
The arrival of Lise Boëll reproduces a pattern already put in place by Vivendi when it owned Editis, the number two in publishing, which it had to sell to take control of Hachette Livre. The editor had been placed in charge of Plon, a historically important and symbolic house, where another director, Céline Thoulouze, was already in place. The fratricidal war caused considerable damage. However, those close to Vincent Bolloré clearly saw Lise Boëll, who left Plon at the end of December 2023, taking the reins of Fayard.
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