This week Mr Fourtou confirmed that he was considering a spin-off of Vivendi's American holdings.

ECONOMIST: Vodafone versus Vivendi

It also no doubt left Fourtou with a massive amount of experience in buying and selling companies.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Mr Fourtou may not want out of American showbiz, and any talks going on may come to nothing.

ECONOMIST: Vivendi Universal

Vivendi chairman and chief executive Jean Rene Fourtou said the deal would help turn the firm's entertainment business around.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Vivendi sells US media empire

Yet almost everything Mr Fourtou has said or done since then hints at an underwhelming passion for the business.

ECONOMIST: Vivendi Universal

It is also possible that Mr Fourtou wants Cegetel purely for short-term cashflow, as he decides what kind of company Vivendi should be.

ECONOMIST: Vodafone versus Vivendi

By Mr Fourtou's own admission there is no synergy between Vivendi's entertainment and telecoms divisions, and one of them will have to go within the next couple of years.

ECONOMIST: Vodafone versus Vivendi

Mr Fourtou is also busy moving Vivendi's headquarters out of the swanky Park Avenue offices acquired by Mr Messier, trimming the headcount there, and returning head-office activities to Paris.

ECONOMIST: Vivendi Universal

Of course that's going to be much more challenging for Vivendi, which just saw CEO Jean-Marie Messier replaced last week by Jean-Rene Fourtou when shareholder dissatisfaction hit a crescendo.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Fourtou will probably be less candid with the public so as not to hinder his efforts to generate competitive auctions for Vivendi properties when most everyone knows the company is desperate to raise money.

FORBES: Magazine Article