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Gameloft Names Vivendi Executive As New CEO Following Takeover
With 95.77 percent of Gameloft voting rights now held by Vivendi, the company today completed its leadership takeover. At the annual shareholders meeting, Vivendi appointed five of its own to seats on the mobile publisher’s board.
The new board members include Omnium Bolloré Chairman Sebastien Bolloré, Vivendi general counsel Frédéric Crépin, Canal+Régie chairman Francie Mayer, Canal+ Group CEO Maxime Saada, and Vivendi chief operating officer Stéphane Roussel. Roussel has also been named the new Chairman and CEO of Gameloft by the board.
“I start my role today with an ambitious plan: to combine your creative passion with Vivendi’s to accelerate Gameloft’s development,” Roussel said in a memo to Gameloft employees. “You will be a fully-integrated member of the Vivendi family while maintaining your distinctiveness and originality.”
Vivendi leadership will meet with Gameloft senior management next week in Paris. This brings to a close Vivendi’s hostile takeover of the mobile publisher, which began late in 2015.
Ubisoft is in Vivendi’s crosshairs also, as the latter has been gradually increasing its control. You can read more about Vivendi’s latest stock purchase and an in-depth look at how the situation between those two companies is playing out.
Our Take
This move was entirely expected, but it does formally bring the Guillemot’s control of Gameloft to a close. Whether Vivendi pursues Ubisoft, gives up, or is thwarted by a timely merger is something we’re watching closely over the coming months.
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