Following the resignation of Patrick Le Lay as director at French commercial broadcaster TF1, the board has appointed Claude Berda, director and CEO of Groupe AB.
Parick Le Lay was named CEO of TF1 in February 1988, a position he held until May 22, 2007, when he became Chairman of the Board of Directors. He resigned on July 31, 2008, leaving the presidency to Nonce Paolini. In resigning from his post as director, Patrick Le Lay closed a period of over 20 years in senior management at TF1.
Claude Berda is one of the success stories in France in the world of television. He founded the AB Group, which includes a bouquet of satellite channels, a DTH platform and an impressive catalogue of content. His company has an estimated worth of approximately €700 million. It is 33.5% owned by TF1, but Berda remains the majority shareholder.
At the end of September 2009, the Group AB sold its stakes in terrestrial channels TMC and NT1 to TF1 for the sum of €192 million. According to the magazine Challenges his personal fortune is estimated at €450 million, which places Berra at the 64th place in the ranking of France’s richest people.
