Stéphane Richard

Stéphane Richard (born 24 August 1961) is a French businessman and the Chief Executive and Chairman of the worldwide mobile phone network Orange.

Stéphane Richard
Stéphane Richard at the 37th G8 summit in Deauville, France (2011)
Born (1961-08-24) 24 August 1961
Caudéran, France
NationalityFrench
EducationHEC Paris
ÉNA
OccupationCEO Orange
Term2011–present
PredecessorDidier Lombard

Early life and education

The son of a mining engineer and grandson of a shepherd,[1] Richard was born in Caudéran in the Gironde department in Aquitaine (South-West France), on 24 August 1961. He studied at HEC Paris and École nationale d'administration in Strasbourg.[2]

Career

Richard made his fortune from his involvement in the leveraged buyout of Nexity, a property development subsidiary of Compagnie Générale des Eaux, the group he joined in 1992.[3]

French government

From 2007 until 2009 he was Chief of Staff to Christine Lagarde, then French Minister for the Economy, Industry, and Employment.

Orange

Richard joined Orange in September 2009, becoming Deputy Chief Executive.

Richard became Chief Executive of Orange S.A. on 1 March 2011. In 2019, Orange voted to renew his mandate.[4]

Other activities

Corporate boards
  • Nexity, Member of the Board of Directors

Non-profit organizations

Controversy

In 2007 there were rumors of an imminent arrest warrant for tax fraud.[6] By early 2019, French state prosecutors called for Richard to be sentenced to three years in jail — with half the time suspended — as well as a €100,000 fine and a five-year ban on any work for the state.[7]

Israel activities

In June 2015, Richard said in Egypt that he would like to withdraw the Orange brand from Israel as soon as possible, but that the move would take time. “Our intention is to withdraw from Israel. It will take time” but “for sure we will do it,” he said. “I am ready to do this tomorrow morning… but without exposing Orange to huge risks.”[8]

In response, a wide range of Israeli politicians condemned his statements and called on the French government to oppose antisemitism. Miri Regev said: "On the backdrop of the recent serious events in France, the French government must show zero tolerance for anti-Semitism," said Regev, in reference to the growing wave of anti-Semitic violence in the France that was highlighted in January by a Muslim holding a kosher supermarket hostage in Paris and murdering four Jews. "I call on Jews of France and the world to disconnect from Orange unless Stephane Richard takes back his words. The time has come for them to understand that Jews in the world and sane voices that oppose anti-Semitism and racism also have power."[9] Yair Lapid said of Richard, ““This is hypocrisy of the highest order... Israel is an island of sanity in the world's toughest neighborhood, and we are not prepared to be lectured on morality from Europeans who live a quiet, untroubled life.”[10]

Israel's president Reuvin Rivlin said of Stéphane Richard: "Disturbingly, I have yet to hear condemnations from France's heads of state of the statements by the CEO of France Telecom like those I heard from Britain, and I expect their voices to be heard here in Israel, in Cairo, and the entire world."[11]

Richard rejected the accusation of antisemitism and went on the record to say, "We [Orange] love Israel. This has absolutely nothing to do with the kind of political debate in which I don't want to be." He said that the decision to withdraw from Israel was purely a business decision, not a political decision. The decision was to disallow companies to license the Orange brand that does not use Orange's services, which is the practice of the Israeli company Partner. Orange plans not to renew its contract with Partner once the terms of the contract are complete.[12] Richard also said that Orange has connections in Israel in other capacities aside from their deal with Partner and that they intend to keep and foster these relationships.[13]

On 5 January 2016 Partner officially announced that it is severing ties with France's Orange and is receiving €90 million compensation from Orange for the damaging comments by Orange CEO Stephane Richard.[14]

Recognition

Richard was awarded the Legion of Honour (Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur) in 2006.[15]

Personal life

Richard is a father of five children from different marriages. He is a classically trained pianist and supports two football teams, Olympique de Marseille and Paris Saint-Germain.[16]

References
  1. Adam Thomson (January 8, 2016), Deal talks put Orange networker’s charisma to the test Financial Times.
  2. "B20 BUSINESS SUMMIT - Guests / Companies". b20businesssummit.com.
  3. Adam Thomson (January 8, 2016), Deal talks put Orange networker’s charisma to the test Financial Times.
  4. David Keohane and Nic Fildes (February 20, 2018), Orange gives Stéphane Richard another 4 years as chief executive Financial Times.
  5. Members European Round Table of Industrialists.
  6. Digiworld Summit 2007, investigation of Stéphane Richard
  7. Victor Mallet (April 2, 2019), French prosecutors call for jail time for Orange chief Stéphane Richard Financial Times.
  8. Mobile giant Orange seeking to join Israel boycott, CEO says BY AFP AND TIMES OF ISRAEL STAFF June 3, 2015,
  9. After CEO's Anti-Semitism, Orange 'Dumps' Israel By Nitsan Keidar, Ari Yashar First Publish: 6/4/2015, Arutz Sheva
  10. Lapid: Orange CEO Has 'A Lot of Chutzpah' By Moshe Cohen First Publish: 6/4/2015, Arutz Sheva
  11. Israel tells France: Condemn Orange CEO's support for boycott Attila Somfalvi and Itamar Eichner Latest Update: 06.04.15, 15:16, ynetnews
  12. Eichner, Itamar. "France opposed to boycott of Israel." Ynetnews. 5 June 2015. 5 June 2015.
  13. "Richard: Orange 'in Israel to stay.'" Ynetnews. 6 June 2015. 6 June 2015.
  14. "Partner is receiving €90 million compensation for the damaging comments by Orange CEO Stephane Richard." Globes.
  15. Digiworld Summit 2014, Profile of Stéphane Richard
  16. Adam Thomson (January 8, 2016), Deal talks put Orange networker’s charisma to the test Financial Times.
Business positions
Preceded by
Didier Lombard		 Chief Executive of Orange S.A.
March 2011 –		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by
Didier Lombard		 Chairman of Orange S.A.
March 2011 –		 Succeeded by
Incumbent
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