Candidates for France TV top job named

Several top executives have revealed they are in the running for the job of president at public broadcaster France Télévisions.

They include the current France Télévisions president, Remy Pflimlin, who wants a second term; the former president of funding body Centre National du Cinéma et de L’Image Animée, Eric Garandeau; and the president of international broadcasting operation France Media Monde (France 24 and RFI), Marie-Christine Saragosse.

Also applying is Christophe Beaux, the president of the institution responsible for the production of the French currency, Monnaie de Paris, who has been a France Télévisions administrator and a board member for the past four years.

Didier Quillot, the former CEO of Orange France and of Lagardère Active, and Alexandre Michelin, MD of Microsoft MSN, both revealed they had also thrown their hats into the ring.

Candidates had until 17.00 yesterday to outline their strategic vision for the pubcaster to regulatory body Conseil Supérieur de L’Audiovisuel (CSA). Not all candidates will be named, as they have the option of keeping their interest secret, in an effort to attract top executives currently in work.

The CSA will reveal the number of applicants on April 1 and a shortlist will be compiled for private interviews. The names of the hopefuls will be released at that stage if they give their permission. The regulatory body will then make its final decision between April 22 and May 22.

Pflimlin’s five-year term ends in August. He was appointed by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2010, after the then president of France changed the process to allow him to select his favoured candidate.

The new French government has now reverted to the previous system, under which the CSA makes the decision.