Bernard Arnault, chairman and chief executive of LVMH, has resigned suddenly from the advisory board of Vivendi Universal, just hours before a board meeting that is critical for its chief executive Jean-Marie Messier.
The surprise resignation of Arnault, who gave no public explanation for his decision to step down from Vivendi's board, is the latest in a wave of problems facing Messier. It will add to speculation that Messier will himself resign or be forced to step down. Messier said last week that he was in charge of the day-to-day running of Vivendi Universal. "If the board is not satisfied with my job, the board will have to oust me," he said.
