French media regulator CSA has confirmed the appointment of Marie-Christine Saragosse as head of the country’s external services.
The current head of TV5 Monde replaces Alain de Pouzilhac, forced to resign from the presidency of the Société de l’audiovisuel extérieur de la France (AEF) in July after losing the confidence of the French president.
The AEF comprises Radio France International (RFI), France 24 and TV5 Monde. A key task for Saragosse will be to seek further co-operation between the organisations that has met with near-universal disapproval under her predecessor.
Ms Saragosse has worked in public sector broadcasting throughout her career. First at the ministry of communications and later in the foreign ministry where she was responsible for Radio France International.
She first joined TV5 in 1997, becoming executive director in 1998 and vice president in 2001. After two years back at the ministry of foreign affairs she returned as general manager of TV5 in May 2008.