Orange shakes up management team, CEO looks to Africa for growth

Orange has reorganised its senior management team in a major shake-up, and CEO Stéphane Richard has set out his stall for how the telco will achieve growth over the coming years.

Key moves in the management shake-up include the appointment of Orange Poland CEO Jean-François Fallacher and CEO of Orange Spain and associate member of the executive committee. A new CEO of Orange Poland will be appointed by the end of June.

Other key changes include the appointment of Orange Belgium CEO Michaël Trabbia as chief technology and information officer and member of the executive committee. Trabbia will be charged with making the most of opportunities presented by upcoming technologies such as AI, data and 5G and to set-up the Group as a major player in the new innovation ecosystem. A new CEO for Orange Belgium will also be appointed by the end of June.

In other moves, Ramon Fernandez, delegate CEO, becomes executive director finance, performance and development, while Mari-Noëlle Jégo-Laveissière, deputy CEO, will oversee Orange’s operational activities in Europe outside France, focused in particular on the roll out of 5G and fibre.

Béatrice Mandine will have an expanded role as Executive Director Communications, Engagement and Brand. Elisabeth Tchoungui will become the new executive director CSR, diversity and philanthropy, and Gervais Pellissier, delegate CEO, becomes executive director human resources and group transformation.

In an interview with financial daily Les Echos, Orange CEO Stéphane Richard meanwhile set out some of the company’s strategic priorities, indicating that he envisaged a period of growth by acquisition, notably in Africa – in particular in large African markets where the company does not currently have a presence such as Nigeria and SouthAfrica – as well as in the areas of digital transformation and enterprise services.

Richard said he was not interested in entries into further European markets but added that he would pay close attention to events in countries in which the company is already present, including Spain and Romania.