Messier’s Reign at Vivendi Universal.Made by – Chandrashekhar jindalRaunak vasandani Sangram korekarKanumuri rajashekar Advait bhobe

1.How would you describe Messier's leadership style at Vivendi?

Probable Answer1. Charismatic Leader2. Competition oriented Mind3. Leader of new generation-Thinking Technically4. Taking challenges upfront5. Selection of Forward thinking executives and

upgrading them.6. Focused7. Ambitious vision8. Heralded as a business genius9. Open Management style-American way10.Aggressive in leadership and taking decisions

on his way of thinking .

2.How did Messier's style impact decisions regarding the business, the strategy, management and the firm's governance?

Probable AnswerExcessively relied on the CEO ,board

members didn’t comment.Many of the French board members had been

picked by Messier and had always been given him their unanimous support

Lack of transparency in the financial decisions.

Obsession with appearing in the press

3. What were the major risk factors of Messier's expansion plans? How did he propose to manage them?

Probable AnswerCritique for his doings in the business.Acquisitions: Changing rapidly in the

magnitude and expanding it rapidly.Analysts had a tough time in understanding

Messier’s planning and strategy.Canal Plus-Firing of Lescure-uproar by public

and politicians.Messier expanded at the expense of

burdening the company with debt and overvalued assets.

The Mounting debt due to excessive acquisitions

Management…Selling of those businesses which did not fit

his strategyComment on Non media business : use of

Distribution channelDuring 2002 in order to reassure the market,

Messier Filed a libel suit against questioning VU financial strength.

4.What role did the French social context play in Messier's rise and fall? What about Media's role?

Probable AnswerPressure by politiciansConflict of Cultures American and FrenchMedia used Messier as a personality

associated with Vivendi and Projected him as an Icon for that.

They predicted the Financial statements before the company which added to the worry

In the french business context it was unusual for a board member to criticize the chairman talk about him at his own meeting

5. To what extent do you think, has Vivendi's board contributed to Vivendi's strategic and financial problems?

Probable AnswerThey did not evaluate the Acquisitions.The transfer of financial entries into VU and

VE were not monitored.Board did not pressurize the CEO to

integrate the Acquired business rather than shopping spree.