Dominique Farrugia (pictured) has been appointed chairman of Canal Plus SA, the principal French channel within the Canal Plus and Vivendi Universal empire.

His appointment, which is subject to approval by Canal Plus shareholders at a meeting tomorrow (Friday, April 26), sees him replace Pierre Lescure at the channel. Lescure was fired last week and replaced as chairman of the Canal Plus group by Xavier Couture. Farrugia was one of Lescure's closest allies and is currently head of programming.

In a statement Vivendi Universal chief Jean-Marie Messier said: "The appointment of Mr. Farrugia demonstrates that Vivendi Universal and Canal+ Group want to ensure not only the financial success of Canal+, but also the creative success that is the essence of the Canal Plus spirit."

Farrugia has climbed from one end of the ladder to the other at Canal Plus. He joined the channel in 1984 at its birth as a production assistant on the show Tous En Scene. There he met Alain Chabat with whom he created the channel-defining Objectif Nul show and the Les Nuls comedy troupe.

He was appointed programming head only as recently as February, but had previously launched his own TV production company and launched two thematic cable channels Comedie and Cuisine TV. For the cinema he has directed two films Traffic D'Influence and Delphine 1, Yann 0. Among his other film credits are co-writing and co-starring in the hit comedy La Cite De La Peur: Une Comedie Familiale.