Pffff New CEO for Alcatel Doesn’t Speak French
Wednesday November 29th 2006, 8:43 pm
Filed under: language, news, weird

From Sign on San Diego:

When Patricia Russo takes the helm of newly-merged telecoms gear groups Alcatel SA and Lucent Technologies Inc. on Friday, 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 some conservative business circles is a statement from the 54-year-old native of New Jersey that she doesn’t plan to learn French…

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7 Comments

7 Comments so far
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As a teacher of French at an American University, I am absolutely dismayed by the content of this article.

Comment by Elisabeth 11.30.06 @ 7:23 am

it IS strange, isn’t it? i am more shocked about the people who hired her (i’m sure they knew she doesn’t speak french) more so than the fact that she has no intention of learning french. (though that is pathetic)

Comment by ptinfrance 11.30.06 @ 8:26 am

She could at least learn one of the 250 words for “penis”!
Seriously, it is a rather stupid move by those who hired her. Will she be living in France? Some people have bodyguards; I guess they’ll hire an interpreter to be with her all the time. You’re right; it is pathetic.

Comment by PretzelBug 11.30.06 @ 10:51 am

You have to know english to prepare a “delocalisation” in romania…
Get ready for massive layoffs.

C’est trop injuste !

Comment by Calimero 11.30.06 @ 12:58 pm

good idea about learning the 205 words, pretzel!

calimero, i believe they plan to lay off almost 9,000 people (likely more) …

Comment by ptinfrance 11.30.06 @ 1:31 pm

I’m surprised that she would announce that intention. It seems like a deliberate slap in the face to the French, not a particularly savvy business move. Why not keep that idea to herself? Odd.

Comment by Gumbo girl 12.07.06 @ 2:49 am

good point, gumbo girl. maybe it was just done for additional PR. a weird but effective stunt to get eyes on alcatel.

Comment by ptinfrance 12.07.06 @ 4:01 am

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