Orange to lose its head

NEWS Orange CEO Jean-Francois Pontal is set to tender his resignation, a move 1ikely to result in a battle for the top spot at France Telecom's mobile arm. A report in today's FT suggests Didier Quillot, head of Orange in France, and Graham Howe, deputy chief executive and previously Hans Snook's right-hand man in the pre-France Telecom days, are the main contenders. Pontal won't be 60 until next year but it is likely the exit of Michel Bon at France Telecom and a recently announced expenditure capping exercise to reduce the parent telco's debt have contributed to the sudden departure. The successor will have to deal with meeting 3G roll out commitments in conditions that call for financial prudence across the France Telecom group.