France Télécom has promoted its international activities to the top of the corporate hierarchy, carving Europe into three parts in the process.
The new structure will -- pending consultation with employee representative bodies -- see the appointment of four new vice presidents, each in charge of a geographic zone and reporting directly to a group vice president. Compared to the existing structure, the chain of command for France Télécom's operations in Europe is significantly shortened.
The reorganization would focus the enterprise on its goal of becoming the leading pan-European operator, the company said in a statement. It said it expected the proportion of revenue gained from international businesses to increase from 13 percent of turnover in 1999 to over 20 percent this year.
Activities in Northern Europe (U.K., Ireland, Norway, Sweden, and Finland) and other OECD countries (U.S., Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand) will be headed by Bernard Izerable, previously responsible for Europe within the international development division. Other divisions cover Central Europe; Southern Europe and the Mediterranean; and South America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
France Télécom, in Paris, can be contacted at +33-1-44-44-9393, or http://www.francetelecom.fr/.