Paris (AFP)
Denis Olivennes, former boss of Canal +, Europe 1 or Le Nouvel Obs, has been appointed managing director and co-manager of the newspaper Liberation, replacing Clément Delpirou, according to an internal email sent by management on Thursday and consulted by AFP.
He therefore leaves the presidency of CMI France, the French media group of the Czech billionaire Daniel Kretinsky (Elle et ses declensions, Version Femina, Télé 7 Jours, Télé 7 jeux, France dimanche et Ici Paris as well as the weekly Marianne), which '' he insured since early 2019.
"Following the announcement of the creation of the FDPI (Endowment Fund for an Independent Press) guaranteeing the shareholder stability and independence of Liberation, the management of the title is strengthened: Denis Olivennes is appointed CEO and co-manager of At the end of the creation of the Endowment Fund, he will take the presidency of Presse Indépendante SAS, company in charge of newspaper management, of which he will have operational control ", specifies the text.
He "will work with Laurent Joffrin, editorial director, management and Liberation teams to build the future of the newspaper together around five fundamental pillars: shareholder stability, editorial independence, editorial excellence, digital development, economic sustainability ".
Denis Olivennes, 59, chaired Numéricable, Canal +, Fnac and the Nouvel Observateur group, before chairing the management board of Lagardère Active (former division of the Lagardère group, on which Europe 1 radio was dependent) between 2011 and 2018.
"I thank Patrick Drahi (founder of Altice, owner of Liberation) for his confidence and for the honor he has given me. With the Liberation teams, we will work together to build the future of the newspaper, in loyalty to its history and the scrupulous respect for its values of everyday life on the left, incomparable on the cultural level, free and provocative in its approach, rigorous in terms of information ", he indicates in the text.
"Journalists, employees, freelancers, readers, partners and loyal supporters of this unique title in the media world can count on my commitment by their side. We will continue and amplify the current dynamic, particularly in digital, in order to to ensure the development of Liberation and its economic balance which are the condition of its freedom ", continues the new leader.
Clément Delpirou, director of Libé for two and a half years, decided to leave the group for a "new adventure".
In mid-May, Altice France, owner of Liberation, had created the surprise by announcing its intention to separate from the newspaper to transfer it to a non-profit company, a new device for a daily newspaper in France and supposed to guarantee the independence of the title, but which had raised doubts among employees.
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