BUSINESSWEEK ONLINE : JULY 3, 2000 ISSUE
COVER STORY Messier's Metamorphosis Jean-Marie Messier, Chairman, Vivendi Universal BORN 1956 in Grenoble, France DUAL DEGREE Graduated from both the Ecole Polytechnique, the premier school for France's business elite, and the Ecole Nationale d'Administration, the academy for civil servants. CIVIL SERVANT Joined the government in 1982 as an auditor of state-owned companies. In 1986, advised the Finance Ministry on privatization. BANKER Jumped to Lazard Freres in 1988, the firm's youngest-ever partner. Advised French companies on how to expand in U.S. and founded one of Europe's earliest LBO funds. EXECUTIVE Joined Compagnie Generale des Eaux, a French water company, in 1994, becoming CEO in 1996. Transformed the utility into a telecommunications and media giant by snapping up European holdings in cell phones, television, and publishing. Changed company name to Vivendi. DEALMAKER Bought Seagram for $34 billion on June 19, creating one of the world's largest entertainment companies. DATA: Business Week _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ BACK TO TOP					RELATED ITEMS Vivendi: Going Hollywood COVER IMAGE: Vivendi: Going Hollywood PHOTO: Vivendi Chairman Jean-Marie Messier TABLE: Messier's Master Plan TABLE: Jean-Marie's Universe TABLE: Messier's Metamorphosis Has Barry Diller Found a Soul Mate? ONLINE ORIGINAL: How Vivendi Could Become USA Networks' Rich Uncle INTERACT E-Mail to Business Week Online

Copyright 2000-2009, by The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc. All rights reserved. Terms of Use   Privacy Notice