Christel Heydemann

Heydemann landed the top job at France’s largest telecom carrier in April 2022. Revenues fell by 9.1% to $46 billion last year; however, the company took immediate action to rectify the drop through expansions and acquisitions, and revenue jumped 2.6% in the second quarter of 2023. Under Heydemann’s leadership earlier this year, Orange unveiled new expansion plans focusing on the future of telecoms and digital solutions in Africa and the Middle East. To achieve that goal, the mobile carrier has partnered with Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) and Medusa to develop the longest cable in the Mediterranean Sea, which will help strengthen links between the regions. It doesn’t stop there: With the goal of universally expanding mobile networks and achieving sustainable growth in cybersecurity, the telecom carrier acquired a 75% stake (minus one share) in Belgium cable company VOO SA.