Groupe M6 today announced that Nicolas de Tavernost has expressed his wish to step down from his position as Chairman of the Executive Board before the previously planned date of 25 August 2025, when he would have reached the age limit defined in the company’s articles of association. Nicolas de Tavernost considers that, since the company’s strategic objectives have been clarified, it is now preferable to hand over his position as Chairman of the Executive Board to a representative from a new generation, who will be responsible for completing the company’s transformation.

The Supervisory Board of Groupe M6 has decided to appoint David Larramendy as Nicolas de Tavernost’s successor. David Larramendy will become Chairman of the Executive Board of Groupe M6 at the end of the Annual General Meeting of Groupe M6 on 23 April 2024, when the Supervisory Board will meet.

Elmar Heggen, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Groupe M6 and Deputy CEO & COO of RTL Group, says: “On behalf of all shareholders, I would like to sincerely thank Nicolas de Tavernost for his outstanding achievements since the creation of M6 in 1987. With his strong leadership, business acumen and clear strategic vision, he has shaped the company from a small TV channel into one of the most profitable and diversified broadcasting groups in Europe. Nicolas de Tavernost is a truly exceptional entrepreneur and innovator, and the success story of M6 will forever be associated with him. Personally, I would like to thank him for our close and trustful collaboration over many years. With an ambitious expansion plan for the streaming service 6play and a highly profitable core business, Groupe M6 is well positioned for future growth. With David Larramendy, we have chosen a highly competent and experienced executive who has been with Groupe M6 for over 16 years. During this time he has achieved excellent results, particularly as Managing Director of M6 Publicité, the advertising sales house from Groupe M6. This internal handover is also testimony to the leadership and management qualities of Nicolas de Tavernost. I wish David Larramendy lots of success in his new position and Nicolas de Tavernost all the best for this future endeavours.”

Thomas Rabe, Chairman and CEO of Bertelsmann and CEO of RTL Group, said: “One of Europe’s most distinguished and successful media managers is leaving Groupe M6, RTL Group, and Bertelsmann. A pioneer of European commercial television, Nicolas de Tavernost was a man of the first hour at M6 and has shaped the company like no other over more than 30 years. He made Groupe M6 one of the most successful media groups on the continent and also provided a lot of input at Bertelsmann – especially on the Group Management Committee. As a four-time winner of the Bertelsmann Award, he has been and continues to be an inspiration for our Group and a role model for our executives. He will remain on friendly terms with our company. On behalf of the entire Bertelsmann Executive Board and personally, I’d like to say: Merci, Nicolas!”

Nicolas de Tavernost, Chairman of the Executive Board of Groupe M6: "I would like to thank the shareholders and Supervisory Board for the trust they have placed in me over all these years. The foundations of Groupe M6 are extremely solid, especially in its teams. The company’s Remuneration and Appointments Committee has proposed David Larramendy, member of the Executive Board responsible for commercial activities, as an internal successor – thus ensuring the continuation of the company’s culture. I am confident that David Larramendy will rise to the many challenges and continue on the path to success. The results for 2023 are proof of the company’s solidity, the development plan for digital activities illustrates its agility, and the skills of our teams give us optimism for the future.”

Biographies

David Larramendy earned a Master of Sciences in Electrical Engineering at Supélec and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He began his career at Ernst & Young before joining the e-commerce website Mistergooddeal.com at its inception in 2000. He then worked at Goldman Sachs’ London offices before joining Groupe M6 in 2008 within the company’s Ventadis (distance selling) division, of which he became CEO in 2010. David Larramendy was appointed CEO of the sales house M6 Publicité in 2014 and has been a member of Groupe M6’s Executive Board since 2015.

Nicolas de Tavernost studied Political Science and Law at the Université de Bordeaux before working at the French Ministry of Foreign Trade from 1974 until 1976 – the same year he was appointed Secretary General of the French Chamber of Commerce in Switzerland. In 1977, Nicolas de Tavernost took up the post of Press Spokesman at the French Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. In 1981, he was appointed Head of Governmental Delegation & Director of Audiovisual Activities at Lyonnaise des Eaux. In 1987, Nicolas de Tavernost joined the newly founded television channel M6 as Managing Director. The following year, he took over responsibility for M6 Publicité, then for the M6 television channel in 1990. In 1996, de Tavernost took a seat on the Board of Directors of Metropole Television. In May 2000, he was appointed Chairman of the Executive Board of Groupe M6. Nicolas de Tavernost was named ‘Chevalier de l’ordre national du Mérite’ in 1994, ‘Chevalier de la Légion d’honneur’ in 2003 and Manager of the Year by Le Nouvel Économiste in 2009. He has received the coveted Bertelsmann Award for his entrepreneurial achievements four times, the first time in 2003.