Claire Léost steps down as general director of CMA Media

Claire Léost is stepping down as general director of CMA Media just over a year after taking the role, Le Monde reported. Before taking the helm of the organization, she served as president of the Prisma Media group, which holds the position of number one in magazine press in France, with titles including Voici, Capital, Femme actuelle, and Télé-Loisirs.

Camille Andrieu Takes Over General Direction

Camille Andrieu, currently serving as the group’s deputy general director, will succeed Claire Léost on October 5, Le Monde reported. Aged 34 and a graduate of ENA and HEC, Andrieu joined CMA CGM in 2023 as chief of staff to Rodolphe Saadé. She subsequently followed the formation of CMA Media before taking up the role of deputy general director in July.

In a statement reported by Le Monde, the media subsidiary credited Claire Léost with leading a major phase of development and transformation. Under her leadership, BFM-TV returned to the top spot among news channels, RMC Sport was acquired, and the BFM Business and La Tribune newsrooms were brought together to form a business pole. Les Echos noted that she also oversaw the launch of RMC life and RMC+. CMA Media also noted that she attempted to sell the local BFM channels, which were ultimately kept and will be transformed.

New Strategy and Growth Plans for CMA Media

Camille Andrieu is tasked with pursuing the development and transformation of all CMA Media brands, focusing on new growth vectors in streaming, production, sports, events, and the creator economy, according to Le Monde. The incoming director plans to announce a strategic roadmap titled “CMA 2030” centered primarily on digital platforms and sports.

To fill the deputy general director post left vacant by Andrieu, the group appointed Georges Maregiano. A former KPMG executive, Maregiano has served as a special adviser to Rodolphe Saadé since September.

Leadership Transition Scheduled for October

Claire Léost will officially leave her post on October 5, handing over the leadership of the 2,800-employee media group to Camille Andrieu. Véronique Saadé, wife of CMA CGM head Rodolphe Saadé, thanked Léost in an internal communication shared with Agence France-Presse for guiding the organization through a major transformation phase.

Expansion of the Franco-Lebanese Billionaire’s Media Empire

Since the 2022 takeover of the La Provence group, which publishes the daily newspapers La Provence and Corse-Matin, the Franco-Lebanese billionaire has constructed a true media empire.