Delphine Ernotte | |
|---|---|
 | |
| President of theEuropean Broadcasting Union | |
| Assumed office 1 January 2021 | |
| Deputy | Cilla Benkö [sv] |
| Preceded by | Tony Hall |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Delphine Cunci (1966-07-28)28 July 1966 (age 59) Bayonne, France |
| Spouse | Marc Ernotte |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Lycée Hoche |
| Alma mater | École Centrale Paris |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
Delphine Ernotte (née Cunci; born 28 July 1966) is a French telecommunications and media executive. She is the chief executive officer ofFrance Télévisions, the President of theEuropean Broadcasting Union, and a former executive atOrange S.A.
Delphine Ernotte was born Delphine Cunci inBayonne, France on 28 July 1966.[1][2] Both her parents, Roger Cunci and Simone Brana, were physicians.[3] Her maternal grandfather, Jean-Pierre Brana, served as the mayor of Bayonne.[4] She is ofCorsican descent on her maternal side.[5] Her sister,Marie-Christine Lemardeley, went on to become the president ofUniversity of Paris III: Sorbonne Nouvelle from 2008 to 2014 and aSocialist politician.[4][6]
Ernotte attendedpreparatory classes at theLycée Hoche inVersailles, before graduating from theÉcole Centrale Paris in 1989 with anengineer's degree.[1][2]
Ernotte joinedFrance Télécom (later known asOrange S.A.) in 1989,[1] where she worked as a financial analyst until 1993.[3][7] She served as an economist at managerial level from 1993 to 1999.[3][7] She was the head of Paris stores in 1999–2000, and the chief executive of La Société de diffusion de radiotéléphonie (SDR), a subsidiary, from 2000 to 2004.[3] She was the head of Orange'sCentre-Val de Loire office from 2004 to 2006.[3] From 2006 to 2008, she served as the director of communication, where she implemented rebranding strategies (from France Télécom to Orange).[3] She served as commercial director of Orange France from 2008 to 2009, and as the head of Orange Distribution, a subsidiary, from 2009 to 2010.[3] She was appointed to the executive committee of Orange in 2010, and she served as the CEO of Orange France from 2011 to 2015.[3][8] During her tenure, a dozen employees committed suicide due to the stressful work culture.[7] She was criticized by theFrench Confederation of Management – General Confederation of Executives for it.[9]
Ernotte has served as the CEO of France Télévisions since 2015, succeedingRémy Pflimlin.[1][6][8] Her appointment was criticized by some members of theConseil supérieur de l'audiovisuel (CSA).[10] She is the first woman to serve as its CEO.[11]
Ernotte is described as a "feminist" by France Télévisions.[12] While she was working at Orange, she founded Inov’Elles, a women's organisation.[1] She has criticized France Télévisions as "a television station run by white men over 50".[2]
Ernotte serves as the chairwoman of the board of trustees of theÉcole nationale supérieure de la photographie inArles.[5][6][13] She is a member ofLe Siècle.[5]
In 2020, Ernotte was elected to be the president of theEuropean Broadcasting Union, with the responsibility to "help champion the value and importance of public service media across Europe". She will be the first woman president leading the EBU, replacing the former BBC Director GeneralTony Hall. Her contract began on 1 January 2021.[14] Ernotte has also been a member of theGlobal Task Force for Public Media, an initiative of the Public Media Alliance, since its founding in September 2019.[15][16]
She became a Knight of theNational Order of Merit in 2011.[17]
She became a Knight of theLegion of Honour in 2014.[18]
In 2021,Variety magazine named her one of the most influential women in global Entertainment industry.[19]
Ernotte is married to Marc Ernotte, a theatre actor.[1] They have two children.[1]
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President ofFrance Télévisions 2015–present | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | President ofEuropean Broadcasting Union 2021–present | Succeeded by |
