France Telecom director to be Orange CEO
London: The merger of mobile phone company, Orange and France Telecom, is to see France Telecom director, Mr. Jean Francois Portal becoming the chief executive with responsibility for the day-to-day running of the company.

Mr. Hans Snook, current chief executive of Orange, has agreed to take a backseat role and assume the post of executive chairman, to concentrate on broader strategic issues.

The appointments would come despite assurances given at the time of France Telecom's purchase of Orange in May that the British management would retain day-to-day control of the enlarged mobile division, dubbed New Orange.

France Telecom plans to float Orange in the second half of 2000.
Back to News Review index page  

Embattled Bridgestone/Firestone gets new CEO
Tokyo: Bridgestone/Firestone, the embattled US unit of the Japanese Bridgestone Corporation, has found a replacement in Mr. John Lampe, currently an executive vice president, to take over as the new chief executive of the company. Mr. Lampe has spent over 27 years with the company.

He replaces Mr. Masatoshi Ono, who was forced to resign after the recent controversy that enveloped the company. Mr. Ono is returning to the company's headquarters in Japan and remains a board member.
Back to News Review index page