Decaux chief denies departure rumours

Decaux Group chief executive Jean-François Decaux has refuted speculation by a number of senior figures within the outdoor industry, that he is to return to France leaving his cousin Pierre Jean-Jean Decaux to run the UK business.

During JC Decaux’s takeover of billboard company Avenir last year, Jean-François Decaux’s father – Jean-Claude Decaux, owner and chairman of the outdoor giant, said both his sons would return to France in the near future and he would retire.

Jean-François Decaux’s younger brother, Jean-Charles Decaux, is based in Paris running Avenir, and heads-up JC Decaux in most of Europe.

Jean-François Decaux – who runs the Anglo-Saxon division which includes the UK, Australia, New Zealand and the US – has been rumoured to be returning to “fight-it out” with his brother to takeover from his father, who is 62 and nearing retirement.

Jean-François Decaux, who claims he is to stay in his London role for the next few years, says his father is not planning to retire for some time. He adds: “I have always made it clear that if I was to return to France, I would want to become responsible for the entire group”.

Jean-François Decaux says both his and his brother’s roles are clearly defined and nothing will change.