Dominique Delport announced on social media that he is the new president of Girondins de Bordeaux, hours after the French club was sold by Gerard Lopez, its owner since 2021, to Sparta Capital, a British investment fund.
Delport, a 58-year-old businessman from Toulouse and a former editor at French broadcaster M6, posted the news on X. He said he was incredibly proud and honored to lead the team as it aimed to write a new chapter for the iconic football club, a club he grew up with and one that is part of the history of French football.
A career in media, and ties to Bolloré
Delport was born in Toulouse in 1967 and is not widely known to the general public. He began his career as a journalist and rose to editor-in-chief at M6 before becoming one of the most influential executives in the media industry.
He went on to lead Havas Media, serve as president of Vivendi Content and hold the international presidency of Vice Media. His long career at Havas and, in particular, Vivendi has led him to be regularly described as close to Vincent Bolloré.
Vivendi owns a wide range of media, production and entertainment companies, including Canal+ and Hachette, as well as stakes in Universal Music Group. Bolloré has repeatedly faced criticism for taking control of numerous French media outlets to push a far-right editorial line, most notably through the channel Cnews. The appointment of one of his associates to lead Bordeaux could draw strong reactions.
Reintegration still uncertain
Delport will work alongside British investor James Bord, who has been described as one of the main financial backers of the project. The agreement remains conditional on Bordeaux being reinstated into a national championship.
The club is currently excluded from national competitions and is awaiting the outcome of its appeal before the CNOSF, France's National Olympic and Sports Committee. If that appeal fails, the takeover arrangement could become void.
