PARIS, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Christel Heydemann has taken a step closer to being the general manager of Orange after the decision of Frank Boulben, one of the three candidates still in the running for the post, to withdraw from the process, reported Saturday Le Figaro https://www.lefigaro.fr/secteur/high-tech/l-horizon-se-degage-pour-christel-heydemann-chez-orange-20220122.
According to an e-mail sent to the directors of the group, quoted by the daily, Frank Boulben “thanks the board of directors of Orange” but the current manager at Verizon in the United States announces that he is retiring to “allow a serene decision of the council”.
Le Figaro adds that Christel Heydemann “seems to be on the right track to succeed Stéphane Richard” but that a board of directors – which should have been held on Monday and was postponed to 28 – must still confirm the choice of vice-president Europe of Schneider Electric.
Earlier this month, the newspaper Les Echos had reported that the Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire intended to defend the candidacy of Christel Heydemann against those of Frank Boulben and the other candidate still in the running, Ramon Fernandez, the financial director of Orange.
The last word to designate the person who will succeed Stéphane Richard after January 31 belongs to the State, which keeps control of the main appointments of the governance of Orange thanks to its controlling stake of 23%. (Report Benjamin Mallet)