Many had expected that if Bollore was successful, Havas chairman and CEO Alain de Pouzilhac would resign at the meeting. However, he refused to comment either way yesterday.
"The vote decides: shareholder democracy works. I shall draw the necessary conclusions from that. I respect its decision and I will bear the consequences," De Pouzilhac said as he left the meeting.
The appointment of Bollore, along with the other Bollore Medias Investissements executives, Marc Bebon, Pierre Bouchut and Thierry Marraud, came after a five-hour meeting in Paris yesterday.
"Democracy was expressed: we gained four board seats and I am very happy," Bollore said after the meeting
Bollore did not give a ringing endorsement to De Pouzilhac's staying on, saying that although he hoped he did, he could be replaced if he did not.
"I do not want him to leave, but if he should leave, Havas will continue," Bollore said.
In the past, Bollore has complained about the way De Pouzilhac has run the company, although he has not outlined what he would do differently.
With Bollore's reputation as a corporate raider, there has been much speculation that Havas could be broken up and sold off. Bollore acknowledged these rumours, but said that they were false.
"There are remarkable talents at Havas, all the work now remains to be achieved," he said.
Shares in Havas, traded on the Paris Bourse, fell by 0.43% this morning to €4.65, following yesterday's decline of 2.5% to €4.67.
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