PMU appoints Normandy mayor as new president

French horseracing operator PMU has announced Philippe Augier as its new president following the resignation of Bertrand Méheut.

Augier, who has served as the mayor of Deauville in Normandy since 2001, assumes the role following ratification at the PMU’s annual general meeting.

France Galop and Le Trot both rubber-stamped Augier’s appointment, with France Galop president Edouard de Rothschild welcoming Augier on Twitter.

Bienvenu Cher Philippe Augier Président du ca du PMU dorénavant au sein de l’Institution des courses pic.twitter.com/8DfFuv8H9d

— Edouard de Rothschild (@EddeRothschild) June 9, 2020

Méheut brought an end to his two-year tenure as PMU president in May, citing the desire to pursue other professional and personal projects.

Speaking to French publication Le Parisien, Augier said he was “happy and proud” to be appointed president and pinpointed his goals for his new role.

Augier continued: “Beyond the development and the conquest of new markets, it is above all necessary to ensure a relationship of trust with the parent companies and the public authorities; it already exists but it is necessary for the success of all actors.

“It is important to remember that I am not an operational president. I set the company’s policy and chair the board of directors. Then, it is the teams in place, who have shown their qualities, who implement all of this on a daily basis,” he concluded.

Meanwhile, Cyril Linette will remain as PMU director general, with Augier stating he has placed his “full confidence” in the former Canal+ executive.