Vivendi boss axes Canal Plus founder

NEWS Jean-Marie Messier, among the most powerful media magnates in the world, has axed one of his most senior executives. The dismissal of Canal Plus founder Pierre Lescure comes just days after Lescure's right-hand man resigned and has increased the pressure on Messier who has seen Vivendi Universal fall out of favour with investors. Since the turn of the year, shares have fallen 36 per cent. Pay TV service, Canal Plus is one of the jewels in Vivendi's crown. Despite being unprofitable, Messier sees Canal Plus as crucial to his vision of supplying content across a variety of media including the PC and mobile phones.