GDF Suez to Name Judith Hartmann as Chief Financial Officer

By Inti Landauro 

PARIS-- GDF Suez SA will appoint Judith Hartmann, the Austrian-born former chief financial officer at German publishing firm Bertelsmann, as its new finance chief as the Franco-Belgian gas and nuclear utility plans annual asset sales of up to EUR3 billion ($3.6 billion) in the next few years.

Ms. Hartmann will replace Isabelle Kocher, who took the job of deputy chief executive at the power group in October. Ms. Hartmann had announced her departure from Bertelsmann in late November.

As well as announcing Ms. Hartmann's appointment on Tuesday, GDF Suez CEO Gérard Mestrallet said proceeds from the asset sales over the next three years would be used to finance "significant" but not "transforming" acquisitions.

Before her stint at Bertelsmann, Ms. Hartmann held top executive jobs at General Electric (GE), Mr. Mestrallet said.

Write to Inti Landauro at [e-mail]

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