Frank Dangeard, chairman of Thomson, is quitting the French media services and electronics group following a difficult two-day board meeting called to weigh the group’s strategy in light of a flagging share price.

His departure signals growing uncertainty over the future of the group, which was once one of the world’s largest consumer electronics companies with brand names RCA and Thomson, but has struggled to find its way in the new digital era. In the absence of any immediate replacement for Mr Dangeard – who will leave no later than April 12 – the board took the unusual step of combining the roles of finance director and chief executive. Julian Waldron, the current CFO, will become acting chief executive with immediate effect until a permanent replacement can be found.