Canal+ poaches from France TV again

Canal+ Group has poached a top France Télévisions executive as its director of sports.

Thierry Thuillier is currently news director at France Télévisions and programmes director at France 2, whose performance he has improved over the past year.

He will join Canal+ on June 15, reporting to Maxime Saada, deputy MD of Canal+ Group in charge of pay TV channels.

Thuillier is the second France Télévisions exec to be poached by the pay TV group, folllowing the appointment of former France 3 programmes director Thierry Langlois.

Thuillier, who joined France Télévisions group as news director in 2010, took on the additional role of France 2 programmes director a year-and-a-half ago and succeeded in his challenge to stop the channel’s slide.

The incoming president of France Télévisions, Delphine Ernotte-Cunci – who will officially start in August but has already began appointing her management team – stated in her strategic plan that she will end dual roles.

According to press reports, Bibiane Godfroid could replace Thuillier at France 2. Godfroid stepped down as M6 programmes director in December last year and is currently president of M6 production subsidiary Studio89. Ernotte-Cunci also stated that she wants to rebalance France Télévisions’ top management team with more women.

In the meantime, current France Télévisions president Rémy Pflimlin has promoted deputy news director Pascal Golomer to replace Thuillier as news director. France Télévisions programmes director Bruno Patino will combine his current role with the France 2 programmes director position.