Orange nominates Frederic Sanchez as chairman from 19 May

Orange named Frederic Sanchez as its next chairman, with the executive set to assume the position in May after incumbent Jacques Aschenbroich steps down. Orange said its board of directors will make the formal nomination at the company's annual shareholders meeting on 19 May.

Frederic Sanchez currently chairs Orange's Strategy and Technology committee and has served on Orange's board as an independent director since 2020. Before this nomination, Sanchez held several roles at Fives Group, including CFO, CEO and chairman. Orange said Jacques Aschenbroich is leaving the chairman role after reaching the statutory age limit for serving as chairman, and will remain an independent director after four years in the post.

The nomination follows recommendations from Orange's Governance, Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility Committee and an ad hoc committee created ahead of the end of Aschenbroich's term. The leadership change comes one month after Orange CEO Christel Heydemann presented a new five-year strategic plan focused on customer growth, AI investment and monetising infrastructure assets.