The former President of the Republic, Nicolas Sarkozy, definitely takes the role of administrator of Lagardère very seriously, which he has held since June 2021. Perhaps too much. To the point of becoming director of human resources, or even general manager, of its subsidiary Hachette Livre. According to the deputy general director of Humensis, Muriel Beyer, who was his editor for years at Éditions de l’Observatoire, he offered her the chance to take over the management of Grasset, one of Hachette’s most prestigious houses. “I thanked him and told him that a wonderful publisher, Olivier Nora, already filled the position very well”tells the World the interested party. The latter declined the offer, recalling its definitive attachment to ” his baby “Observatory editions.
Contacted by The worldOlivier Nora states: “Until further information, I am CEO of Editions Grasset and intend to remain so. I refuse to comment on rumors. » Through his press secretary, Nicolas Sarkozy did not confirm, Friday October 27, that he had made this proposal to Muriel Beyer.
This new episode illustrates the existing tension in relations between the former head of state and Olivier Nora. Nicolas Sarkozy had been irritated by the publication of a work by Patrick Rambaud, Chronicle of the reign of Nicholas I, published in 2008 by Grasset. And especially by the choice of the cover band representing him as Tarzan, dressed in a leopard swimsuit. Before Vincent Bolloré’s Vivendi group officially swallowed up Hachette, Olivier Nora also showed himself to be very courageous but very alone, at the end of June, by signing a tribune support for journalists JDD (subsidiary of Vivendi).
Dispute with Sophie de Closets
In charge, Nicolas Sarkozy, a great friend of the Breton industrialist, has already obtained in March 2022 the departure of one of the group’s talented editors, Sophie de Closets, at the head of Fayard. Having left for Flammarion (Madrigall), she took with her around ten leading authors.
In the spring, the former tenant of the Elysée, also an author, had warned Muriel Beyer that he would leave Editions de l’Observatoire, despite the commercial success of his last two works. Passions (2019) and The Time of Storms (2020), to join Fayard (Hachette). A house now headed by Isabelle Saporta, who sided with Nicolas Sarkozy’s cause during his dispute with Sophie de Closets. However, his latest work The Time of Fighting (2023), sold much less than the previous ones.
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