Altice to poach Alcatel-Lucent chief Michel Combes

By Digital TV Europe

Altice chief Patrick Drahi has appointed Alcatel-Lucent chief executive Michel Combes as president of Numericable-SFR and global director of operations at Altice itself, and he will join the telecoms group next month, according to Le Figaro, reports DTVE.

According to the paper, Drahi has offered Combes, with who he has a longstanding friendship, a position tailored to suit him. Combes has long been an evangelist for the benefits of fixed-mobile convergence, which influenced his leadership of Alcatel-Lucent.

Combes’ appointment comes as no surprise. His move to Altice was widely reported in June, initially by Challenges magazine.

He is set to leave his post at the telecom equipment giant on September 1, a move that has been on the cards since Nokia’s agreement to acquire the company in April. Philippe Camus, Alcatel Lucent’s chairman, will fill his post on an interim basis, according to Le Figaro.

Eric Denoyer will remain CEO of Numericable-SFR. At Altice, Combes will work alongside CEO Dexter Goei.