Patricia Russo heads a Paris-based giant, but has no intention to learn French
When Patricia Russo takes the helm of newly merged telecom equipment companies Alcatel SA and Lucent Technologies Inc., she will be the only woman and the only American to head a company in France’s CAC-40 index of blue chips.
But what is creating more of a stir in conservative business circles is a statement from the 54-year-old native of New Jersey that she doesn’t plan to learn French.
“I find that shocking,” says Jacques Legendre, a French Senator and vice-president of the cultural affairs committee. “If I worked in New York I would try to speak English.”
Many French people make no secret of their regret that English is the lingua franca of the business world and hate to hear French peppered with English words.
However, Alcatel-Lucent will be headquartered in Paris and Ms. Russo will have to face shareholders, business partners and political and media figures who will speak only French.
“I think she [Russo] will have a few problems running the company — not everyone at Alcatel speaks English,” said Steve Gentili, president of Bred Banque Populaire and head of the Francophone Business Forum. “And how will she manage when unions, works council representatives and shareholders come to see her?” [...]
[tags]France,Patricia Russo,Alcatel,Lucent Technologies[/tags]
