Eurotunnels picks Bourguignon

Eurotunnel has named its new chairman. The Channel Tunnel operator picked the favourite, Philippe Bourguignon, who was once Euro Disney chief executive and Club Méditerranée chief executive and chairman. The frenchman will take over as Eurotunnel chairman on 29 October when the current chairman, Charles Mackay retires – although the two are expected to work alongside each other for a short period. According to a report in the FT.com, the appointment came under pressure from “French rebel shareholders”, led by Nicolas Miguet, “a maverick financier and would-be politician”, who argued that the company was too British-oriented. The rebel shareholders will call for the dismissal of the existing board and management at the AGM on 7 April because it is too British-dominated, according to the news website. Report by Ginny McGrath