And yet early March the EDF window closed

Difficult to miss. Whenever he looks at the Seine River, from its Office in the 6th floor of the Ministry of the economy and employment, Stéphane Richard sees it: the logo of Banque Populaire. A little as if François Pérol, the new pattern of mutual Bank, sent it a wink in murmuring: "still in Bercy.... The Director of Office of Christine Lagarde in smiles. But, on the eve of his hearing before the Board of ethics of the public service, the announced successor to Didier Lombard at the head of France Telecom is a little more tense than usual: two months after "case Perol" has left traces, and forbade any missteps. "It requires me to do everything in the forms", recognizes the person, so close to Nicolas Sarkozy that he touch in private.

The former Deputy Secretary-General of the Elysee Palace, including the parachute at the head of the Caisse d'Epargne group - Banque Populaire had aroused an outcry, Stéphane Richard therefore endeavored to "properly preparing things." His first concern was to seize the Committee on professional conduct "prior to any announcement." To tag field, the right arm of Christine Lagarde has also alerted "upstream" various political and trade union officials. Some figures of the CAC 40 also. Mean that, for the French establishment, his next arrival France Telecom is strictly a surprise. It is unless as Stéphane Richard was above all to "come under the umbrella" of the current President and CEO. In this case, the Director of Office of Christine Lagarde does not deny that the head of State could be "engine", but he assured him: his transfer to the telecom operator is orchestrated "in full agreement with Didier Lombard." For the time being, the strategy seems to bear fruit: apart from a few ripples, the announcement of his arrival in France Telecom has raised controversy and, on the whole, analysts applaud this smooth succession.

"Brains mobility".

Remains to drive the nail tomorrow, by demonstrating to the Ethics Commission that this "exfiltration" raises no ethical problems. Without having been involved, at Bercy, in records related to France Telecom, Stéphane Richard necessarily followed closely the most emblematic issues, such as the fourth mobile license. A confusion of genres that earned him, sooner or later, criticism. The Director of Office of Christine Lagarde prepare, regretting that this kind of trial affect, in France, "brains mobility": "the price is heavy for people like François Perol, Editor's note or me, who have agreed to leave our previous functions to serve the State...". The slightest movement, it is shooting like the ATB. "" If we want to inject a little practices of the private sector in the State, is the former CEO of Veolia Transport, should not prevent people from moving. " Or it will be seen to constitute a caste of civil servants, working life for the French administration. It is a choice.

Stéphane Richard, he made the choice to return to the business world. "To have a responsibility in its fullness." An ambition which he never mystery, and that fueled many fantasies for two years... In July 2007, a month after his arrival at Bercy, a recurring rumour made him the President of GDF Suez, before even the birth of the new group. Subsequently, his name will be referred successively at the SNCF and RATP. Today, the future pattern of France Telecom may well say: only founded rumors related to EDF. "A magnificent group, strategic for the country, at the junction of the political and the business, a challenge that I was ready to take", says.

EDF: the scenario was written...

A little more than a year ago, of contacts with the CEO of the French electrician, Pierre Gadonneix. Mindful of "securing" the end of term, he realized that he had any interest to prepare his estate and offers a "ticket" to the Director of Office of Christine Lagarde. The schema looks like it is mistaken that draws in France Telecom: first, Stéphane Richard reportedly was appointed Director General in charge of the international, then it would have taken full powers. In private, Stéphane Richard likes to list the qualities required to run a business as EDF: "Whether talking to unions and acceptance of them;" talk to financial markets and investors; whether harmonious relationships with the State. "Curiously, in a House also ticklish as EDF, Richard candidacy raises waves. Internally, it seems to be unanimous. No doubt the effect of lobbying done by the person concerned, who admits having approached all the leaders of the public company to room temperature. The scenario was therefore written. And yet, early March, "the EDF window closed". The turnaround at least a happy, Pierre Gadonneix, now assured, or almost, see its renewed mandate.

"Someone a little too free"

For Stéphane Richard, on the other hand, it is the cold shower. "In the turbulence of the Perol case, Sarko was walking on eggs early March, decrypts one of his relatives. The Chairman said that he was set on fire by appointing one of his intimate at the head of a company also emblematic that EDF. "Another element could weigh in the balance: about the same time, a collaborator of the Elysée tells that during a working meeting, Stéphane Richard had submitted in detail its plans for EDF. In the presence of the President, the Secretary General, Claude Guéant, and Henri Guaino, he had then developed the list of leaders that he wished to secede after his arrival at the head of the company. Half a dozen in total. Too, obviously, for Nicolas Sarkozy, who would not take that risk. "Despite their ties of friendship, President Stéphane sees someone a little too free, so fairly controllable step in its eyes, says a close of the two men." In a certain way, he said that he has enough of an Anne Lauvergeon at Areva; He did not intend to renew the experience at EDF...

For Stéphane Richard, this will be France Telecom. A gift that is not entirely fallen from the sky, still. Former technical advisor in charge of new technologies with Dominique Strauss-Kahn at the Ministry of industry, the future CEO was also five years during the telecoms operator administrator. A House that he is familiar. "Better than EDF", he says. Those who questioned his ability to lead the "mammoth" France Telecom and consider it "too young", in quarante-sept years for such a position, the Director of Office of Christine Lagarde responds that he led "a boutique of 82.000 Veolia people." "I think that it counts more than my friendship with Sarko...".