Marseille in Advanced Talks to Appoint Stéphane Richard as New President
Olympique de Marseille is on the verge of a major leadership change, with former Orange CEO Stéphane Richard poised to become the club's new president. According to reports from La Provence, the 64-year-old French businessman is the preferred candidate of owner Frank McCourt and is expected to be officially presented at a press conference this Friday. The move follows the official departure of former president Pablo Longoria at the end of March, a decision that had been anticipated for several weeks.
Stéphane Richard is a prominent French businessman with a significant background in both the public and private sectors. A graduate of HEC Paris, he has held high-profile roles including CEO of Orange, Chief of Staff to former Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, and a senior role under former Ecology Minister Jean-Louis Borloo. He is currently a member of the supervisory board of the Grand Port Maritime de Marseille. His appointment is seen as a strategic move by owner Frank McCourt to bring in a seasoned executive with strong political and business connections to stabilize and grow the club's operations.
The decision comes at a critical juncture for Marseille, who are seeking a return to the upper echelons of French and European football. The club has not won a major domestic trophy in over a decade and has faced challenges in consistently qualifying for the UEFA Champions League. The appointment of a high-profile figure like Richard, with his extensive corporate and government experience, signals an intent to bring a more corporate and commercially focused approach to the club's management, moving beyond the traditional football executive structure that was in place under Longoria.
The appointment is expected to be formally ratified following a board meeting. Richard's primary objectives will be to stabilize the club's sporting project, improve its financial footing, and oversee the planned renovation of the Stade Vélodrome. His extensive network in French business and political circles is anticipated to open new commercial and strategic avenues for the club, which has faced financial and sporting challenges in recent years. This leadership change marks a significant strategic shift for the club as it aims to re-establish itself as a dominant force in French football, with the new president expected to implement a more corporate and financially driven model for the club's future development.
