France Telecom CEO lays out plan

Associated Press

PARIS

New France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard on Monday laid out plans to boost employee morale and make 5 percent of the global population clients of his Orange brand by 2015.

Richard took over as CEO four months ago after his predecessor, Didier Lombard, was criticized over his handling of a spate of employee suicides last year.

At a press conference in Paris, Richard presented a five-year plan which he said is designed to motivate staff and make France Telecom a better company to work for.

In its home market, France Telecom plans to add 10,000 jobs by 2012, including doctors and psychologists who France Telecom is recruiting as part of a $1.1 billion new social contract.

France Telecom has 180,000 employees, of which 100,000 are in France.

Richard said France Telecom needs to reinvigorate an aging work force where the average age is more than 47.

The plan also covers the previously announced $2.5 billion investment in fiber optic networks by 2015.

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