Stéphane Richard Appointed as New President of Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille has named Stéphane Richard as its new president, the club’s owner, Frank McCourt, announced on Friday. The former CEO of Orange will officially assume the role on July 2, though he will begin participating in the decision-making process in the coming weeks alongside interim president Alban Juster. The appointment marks a significant leadership change for the Ligue 1 club.
According to Frank McCourt, the American owner of OM, the decision was straightforward. "When I studied the different candidates and I understood that Stéphane was interested—I’d known him for a while from his time as CEO of Orange—he ticked all the boxes," McCourt said. He added that Richard was the clear choice to bring "serenity and calm" back to the club, a quality McCourt emphasized as crucial for the club's future direction.
Stéphane Richard, a French businessman with a high-profile corporate background, is a significant appointment for the club. His business acumen and experience in leading a major corporation are seen as assets for the club's strategic and commercial development. The move is seen as a stabilizing move by McCourt, who has been seeking to install a strong, experienced leader at the helm to provide long-term direction.
Richard’s primary mandate will be to bring stability and a clear strategic vision to the club, both on and off the pitch. His experience in leading a major corporation like Orange is expected to be leveraged to improve the club's commercial operations and overall management structure. His appointment is not immediate, with the official start date set for early July, but his immediate involvement in the club's decision-making process signals a swift transition.
For Olympique de Marseille, a club with a passionate fanbase and a history of high expectations, this appointment comes at a critical time. The club is looking to re-establish itself as a consistent force in Ligue 1 and make a greater impact in European competitions. Richard’s business leadership is anticipated to bring a more corporate and structured approach to the club's operations. This move is a clear signal of McCourt’s intention to professionalize the club's management and build a sustainable, competitive project for the future, aiming to restore the club to the pinnacle of French and European football.
