Etienne Melliani, left, and Charles-Henry de Lignac, right

La Méridionale changes chief executive again, just eight months after naming Étienne Melliani

FerryÉtienne Melliani is stepping down as chief executive of La Méridionale, just eight after taking the helm. He will be succeeded on 1 September by Charles-Henry de Lignac, who has served as the company's deputy commercial managing director, according to reports first published by La Provence and Le Marin.

Melliani was appointed managing director of La Méridionale in January 2026, arriving from DFDS France, where he had headed the group's French operations. Before moving into shipping, he served as chief of staff to former French Transport Minister Jean-Baptiste Djebbari. His exit, announced roughly eight months into the role, was not accompanied by a stated reason in the reporting so far.

De Lignac takes over a company that operates passenger and freight services linking Marseille with Corsica and Morocco. He rises from within La Méridionale's own commercial leadership, having held the deputy commercial managing director post at the CMA CGM subsidiary.

The change extends a period of frequent turnover in La Méridionale's executive suite since CMA CGM took full ownership of the company from the STEF group in May 2023. Hugues Houzé de l'Aulnoit was installed as director general at the time of the acquisition; Maria Harti was named to the role in January 2024; and Melliani succeeded her a year later, in January 2026. De Lignac will be the company's fourth chief executive in roughly three years.

aug 18 2026