Directorate Change
March 24 2003 - 10:27AM
UK Regulatory
RNS Number:1218J
Orange S.A.
24 March 2003
Board Changes
Paris and London: March 24, 2003: Orange SA, a leading European mobile group,
today formally confirmed the changes to its board, the intention of which have
already been announced.
Sol Trujillo has formally been confirmed as Chief Executive Officer.
Jean-Francois Pontal, former Chief Executive Officer today officially resigns
from the Board with immediate effect prior to his retirement.
Graham Howe, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Group Chief Operating Officer,
has today formally resigned from the Board as he has already announced he would
and will be leaving Orange after a transitional period.
In addition, it is Orange's intention to appoint a third independent
non-executive director, and the Nominations Committee is now pursuing this.
Sol Trujillo said:
"All of us wish Jean-Francois and Graham all the very best - Jean-Francois in
his retirement and Graham in the next stages of his career. Both have had a
truly formative impact on Orange and hand over a group demonstrably well ahead
of any forecasts made at the time of its flotation and in great shape to build
its momentum and strategic position."
Enquiries:
Orange
London:
Niamh Byrne, Head of Media Relations + 44 (0) 20 7984 2000
Orange Media Centre + 44 (0) 20 7984 2000
David Smyth, Group Head of Investor Relations + 44 (0) 20 7984 1691
Paris:
Nilou Du Castel, Head of the press office +33 (0)1 44 44 93 93
Citigate Dewe Rogerson +44 (0) 20 7638 9571
Anthony Carlisle (+44 (0) 7973 611 888)
Notes to Editors:
1. Sol Trujillo
Sol was appointed a non-executive member of the Orange Board in 2001 and was
confirmed as Orange's CEO on March 7th this year. Following his MBA from the
University of Wyoming in 1974, Sol began his professional career at Mountain
Bell Telephone. He was appointed President and CEO of USWest in 1995 and
Chairman in 1999. He retired from this position in June 2000 when the merger
between USWest and Qwest Communications was completed. He has been on the
Chairman's Council at Alcatel SA since 2000. He serves on the Board of
Directors of Pepsi Co; Target Stores and Gannet. Sol is now based in both
London and Paris.
2. Jean-Francois Pontal
Jean-Francois was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Orange in August, 2000,
and remained also a member of the Executive Committee of France Telecom. He was
formerly the Executive Officer of France Telecom in charge of the Mass Market
Products and Services Division. Jean-Francois Pontal joined France Telecom
after 17 years with Carrefour where he was successively "Men and Markets"
Operations Director, Chief Executive of Pryca, the Spanish subsidiary of
Carrefour, and a member of the management committee in charge of Southern
Europe. He began his career with the Bossard Institute as a specialist
consultant in the field of human resource management.
3. Graham Howe
Graham is one of the founding directors of Orange plc, having joined the company
in 1992. Graham was responsible for setting the strategic direction and growth
of the business of Orange plc. Previously Deputy chief Executive and Chief
Financial Officer of Orange plc, he retained the same responsibilities for the
enlarged Orange Group. In 2001, Graham devolved responsibility for the finance
function and became Group Chief Operating Officer as well as his
responsibilities as Deputy Chief Executive. Prior to joining Orange, Graham
worked in the telecommunications sector for over ten years, having held senior
positions at Hutchison telecom, First Pacific Company and Touche Ross Management
Consultants.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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