Jean-Marie Messier

Jean -Marie Messier ( born December 13, 1956 in Grenoble ) is a French businessman, who worked as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer ( CEO) until 2002 when multinational media conglomerate Vivendi SA (formerly Vivendi Universal).

After studying at the École Polytechnique from 1976 to 1980 and then at the École nationale d'administration between 1980 and 1982 Messier received various positions in the French Ministry of Economy during the 1980s, before joining the investment bank Lazard Freres in 1989. After taking over the Presidency of the water - supply company Compagnie Générale des Eaux in 1994, he increased the diversification in the media sector and the merger in 2000 with Canal and Seagram ( owner of Universal Studios ) above in order to form the new company Vivendi Universal.

Messier was forced in July 2002 to resign his position at Vivendi, after the company had to report a loss of 13.6 billion euros ( 11.8 billion U.S. dollars) in fiscal year 2001. During his time as Chairman ( CEO) of Vivendi, Messier used company funds to buy a 17.5 million U.S. dollar expensive apartment for his personal use - at 515 Park Avenue at 60th Street in New York City; in the expensive apartment he received economic and political leaders such as Senator Jon Corzine. After the dismissal Messier tried to claim the apartment as part of his severance package, but was rejected. Messier moved to New York City in order henceforth to work as a business consultant. Today he has a consulting firm based in New York City and Paris.

From the French politsatirischen dolls broadcast Les Guignols de l' info Messier received the nickname " J6M ", an abbreviation for " Jean -Marie Messier, moi - même maître du monde (Jean -Marie Messier, myself ruler of the world ).

Swell

• Neligan, Myles: Profile: Jean -Marie Messier. In: BBC NEWS: Business. BBC, 2002, accessed on 14 March 2006.
• Coatney, Mark: Person of the Week: Jean -Marie Messier. In: TIME Online Edition. Time Inc, 2002, accessed on 14 March 2006.