Alcatel-Lucent CEO Michel Combes this week said he will remain in his post to ensure the vendor’s €15.6 billion merger with No kia remains on track.
When Nokia agreed to acquire Alcatel-Lucent earlier this year it was clear from the outset that the new merged entity will be led by current Nokia CEO Rajeev Suri.
"I will remain a demanding shareholder," Combes said at the time.
Last week, a report by French magazine Challenges alleged that Combes is due to step down in mid-July in order to take up a role at cable group Altice in September.
However, according to Reuters on Tuesday, Combes told France’s National Assembly – the lower house of France’s parliament – that while he does plan to leave Alcatel-Lucent, no date for his departure has been set.
"After having dedicated two years of my life to Alcatel-Lucent, I would do nothing to weaken it," he said, in the report.
According to Reuters, Combes said when his departure is announced, a transitional leadership structure will be put in place to ensure the completion of the Nokia deal.
