Canal+ reorg sees Bolloré chair supervisory board

Vivendi chairman Vincent Bolloré has become chairman of the Canal+ Group supervisory board as part of a wider management restructure at the French pay TV operator that sees Bertrand Méheut (pictured) exit.

NC+ CEO Julien Verley and Bolloré Média chairman Jean-Christophe Thiery also join the Canal+ board at part of the restructure, with the latter becoming chairman of the Canal+ Group management board.

Canal+’s recently appointed CEO, Maxime Saada, continues in this role, but current president of Canal+’s board, Méheut will relinquish his position after more than a decade in charge.

The changes significantly tighten Bolloré’s grip on Canal+.

“The Supervisory Board wishes to warmly thank Bertrand Meheut for his outstanding work at the helm of Canal+ Group for the last thirteen years,” said Canal+’s parent company Vivendi in a statement.

“He has been responsible for the company’s spectacular recovery and its transformation into the largest French media group, with leading positions in television and film. Bertrand Meheut will remain as special advisor to Vincent Bolloré on the significant transformation that Vivendi wants to achieve with Canal+ Group.”

The Canal+ Group Management Board is now made up of Thiery, Saada, Grégoire Castaing and Verley.

Confirmation of the restructure comes after the French press reported this week that Bolloré was planning to make significant changes to the organisation of Canal+ in an effort to more closely integrate the pay TV operator with Vivendi.

Yesterday, the firm said it was in talks to acquire a stake in the merged Zodiak Media and Banijay Group company.