Havas chief tipped to replace Méheut at Canal+

Dominique Delport

Vivendi chairman Vincent Bolloré plans to install long-term confidant and Havas Média CEO Dominique Delport as president of Canal+ to replace Bertrand Méheut, according to French press reports.

According to reports in financial daily Les Echos and news magazine Le Point, Bolloré is set to follow up the replacement of the pay TV group’s CEO Rodolphe Belmer by Maxime Saada with the appointment of Delport, who is already a member of Vivnendi’s supervisory board, although the date for the transition has yet to be revealed.

Delport has served as CEO of Havas Média France since 2008 and was one of the executives responsible for the launch of free-to-air digital-terrestrial channel D8, the acquisition of which – along with sister channel D17 – by Vivendi led to Bolloré acquiring his stake in the media giant.

The executive moves at Canal+ reflect Bolloré’s interventionist approach at the broadcaster. According to Le Point, Bolloré addressed senior Canal+ staff yesterday afternoon, citing Belmer’s alleged lack of loyalty and transparency as factors behind his departure. He was reportedly also critical of Renaud Le Van Kim, producer of flagship discussion show Le Grand Journal, which is now  expected to be cancelled.