Orange Names Heydemann First Female CEO at Key Time for Telecoms

Orange SA named Christel Heydemann chief executive officer, making her the first woman to lead France’s biggest phone carrier.

An engineer and graduate of France’s elite Ecole Polytechnique, Heydemann, 47, replaces Stephane Richard,who stepped down after he was convicted late last year over his handling of a dispute at the French finance ministry more than a decade ago. Heydemann will take office on April 4, the company said in a statement Friday.

Stephane Richard will continue as chairman and CEO until Heydemann takes up her new role, and will stay as non-executive chairman until a new chairman is ...