News
French telco’s chief executive goes upstairs amid management reshuffle; replacement will be named this month.
Numericable SFR is looking for a new CEO, having announced that longtime holder of the post Eric Denoyer will step aside as part of a reshuffle designed to strengthen the operator’s position in the high-speed broadband and content markets.
Parent company Altice’s chief operating officer Michel Combes, who joined the firm from Alcatel-Lucent in September, will serve as interim CEO until a replacement is found, the French telco announced late last week.
It expects to name a new leader this month.
SFR is structuring a new management team around three pillars: commerce, operations and support. Some of the key roles in those areas will be filled by executives who are already part of the SFR management team, while others are new appointments. See below for the full list.
"The new team represents a new milestone for the success of our market goal: to make SFR the leader in ultrafast broadband and content," Combes said.
SFR will work on improving service quality and customer experience, while investing heavily in its fixed and mobile networks and in content, he said.
Combes also thanked Denoyer for his 11 years with the company, particularly his efforts in integrating mobile operator SFR with cableco Numericable over the past 12 months. Denoyer will now join SFR’s board of directors to ensure continuity of operations.
The announcement comes at a time of possible upheaval in the French market.
Last week Orange admitted to holding talks with Bouygues Telecom that could lead to a merger deal, which itself would likely lead to the divestment of assets in order to win over competition regulators.
The sale of spectrum or customers could be beneficial to Numericable SFR and rival Free Mobile, although analysts note that the advantages could be greater for the latter.
SFR’s executive committee:
COMMERCE
Executive director for the general public to be named this month
Companies executive director, William de Lavallade
Operators executive director, Eric Pradeau*
OPERATIONS
Networks executive director, Philippe Le May*
Executive director for process and quality of service, Emeric Dont
Executive director, information systems, Christophe Delaye
SUPPORT
Executive director of human resources, Florence Cauvet
Executive director of finance, Thierry Lemaître*
Secretary general, Régis Turrini
Deputy secretary general, director to the president, Jerome Yomtov*
* indicates existing members of the telco’s executive committee.
