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Delphine Ernotte Cunci

French media regulator the CSA has named the current executive director of Orange France, Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, as the new president of public broadcaster France Télévisions, replacing Rémy Pflimlin when his current term ends.

Ernotte-Cunci, 48, who will take up her new role on August 22 and will serve for a five-year term, is the first woman to take the helm at the pubcaster.

In its note on the decision to appoint her, the CSA highlighted her “solid management skills”, her “strong attachment to public service” and her awareness of changing video consumption habits.

Ernotte-Cunci beat off competition from a shortlist of seven candidates drawn from an initially much wider field of applicants. In the final stage of the process, the CSA chose her over Pascal Josèphe, the founder of International Média Consultants Associés (IMCA) and a former head of TF1.

Orange CEO Stéphane Richard has said he will take direct responsibility for Orange France to ensure management continuity and guarantee the implementation of the group’s Essentials2020 strategic plan.

“I warmly congratulate Delphine for her appointment at the head of France Télévisions; a decision that clearly underlines her considerable managerial and personal qualities,” said Richard.

“In particular, Delphine has consolidated the Group’s leadership position on the French market through the successful deployment of very high-speed fixed and mobile networks – fiber and 4G –, through the launch of investment programmes that are accelerating today. We wish her all the best in her new role,” he said.