Hand left Emap last year after being held responsible for forcing through the acquisition of the US Petersen magazines at a vastly inflated £720m. The division then started losing money as a result of the advertising slump and accounting irregularities were found.
Emap took the decision to sell the division and Hand lost his job. After failing to get what it wanted for the division, it was eventually sold to Primedia in July at a huge loss for £365m.
The news that Hand has reappeared in France comes as no surprise. Hand led Emap's expansion in the French market, building the division into one of Hachette's biggest rivals and the country's third-largest publisher by market share.
It was his success in the French market that is believed to have helped snare him his ill-fated job at the top of Emap, which has since been reclaimed by chairman Robin Miller.
When Hand arrived in France in 1994 the story goes that he did not speak any French. Hand is now thought to be a French speaker and is thought to have returned to France soon after his relationship with Emap turned sour.
His new role will see him become special adviser to Hachette president Gerald de Roquemarel. Hand will work on new title launches in Australia, the UK and France, and could end up working with former Emap colleagues, as Emap publishes Elle and New Woman in France in a joint venture with Hachette.
Hand said: "The future is full of opportunities and I am really looking forward to helping Hachette take advantage of them."
Hachette, owned by Lagardere, publishes French titles such as Paris Match and Premiere.
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