Canal+ alum Rodolphe Belmer to head up French commercial broadcaster TF1

French commercial broadcaster TF1 is to appoint former Canal+ exec Rodolphe Belmer as its new CEO.

Rodolphe Belmer (photo: Iannis Giakoumopoulos Rea)

Gilles Pélisson is currently chairman and CEO of France’s biggest commercial broadcaster, but will propose a temporary split of the roles and the appointment of Belmer at a board meeting on October 27.

Pélisson will become chairman of the board of directors until the board meeting of February 13, 2023, when it would be proposed that Belmer becomes chairman and CEO of the TF1 Group.

Pélisson will then join the Bouygues Group – the largest shareholder of TF1 with 44% – as senior VP in charge of media and development.

Pélisson said: “I am delighted that Rodolphe Belmer, whom I have known for many years, has accepted my offer to join TF1 Group, and wish him every success in his role. His track record at the head of several leading French multinationals, and his experience in media and streaming, mean he is ideally prepared to meet the challenges we face and to steer the long-term development of the TF1 Group.”

Gilles Pélisson

Belmer has most recently been CEO of French media company Atos after serving as CEO of satellite operator Eutelsat Communications for six years (2016-2021).

Between 2001 and 2015, Belmer built his career within the Canal+ group, being appointed as CEO in 2003 before serving as group CEO from 2012 to 2015. Belmer is also chairman of the SACD foundation Auteurs Solidaires since 2018, board member of Netflix since 2018, and chairman of the Series Mania Festival since 2019.

The news comes as TF1 abandons its proposed merger with commercial broadcast rival M6 after a probe by French competition authorities.