Emmanuelle Malecaze-Doublet becomes first female CEO of PMU

French horseracing operator PMU has named Emmanuelle Malecaze-Doublet as CEO, becoming the first woman to head up the state-owned firm in its history.

Malecaze-Doublet will replace interim CEO Philippe Augier, who has served in the role since October 2021.

Augier stepped in as CEO following the dismissal of former CEO Cyril Linette over misconduct.

Linette was accused of “publicly changing his mind without any prior consultation with the board of directors, while sending accusatory letters against the administrators and parent companies”.

Malecaze-Doublet’s promotion to CEO will be ratified at a general meeting of the PMU on 8 July.

She initially joined PMU as the firm’s chief financial officer in September 2018 from management consultancy firm McKinsey & Company where she was an associate partner.

She then became chief marketing officer in September 2019 before adding ecommerce and international to her remit in February 2021.

Elsewhere, PMU is set to name Bouygues Telecom director general Richard Viel as the operator’s new chair.

Remarking on his departure, Augier thanked the senior PMU team for their support and confirmed his intentions to concentrate on his work as mayor of Deauville.

He said: “Despite the economic and health crisis that the PMU and the entire equestrian industry have gone through, we have collectively been able to cope.

“I would like to thank Emmanuelle Malecaze-Doublet for her unfailing involvement at my side, in which I have every confidence for the future, and the entire management committee for its commitment,” he added.