Laurent Paillassot (pictured), an executive with extensive background in France’s finance sector, has been drafted to head Orange’s mobile banking business, a reflection of how much the operator wants to make a success of that particular activity.

In addition to becoming senior executive vice president of customer experience and mobile banking, Paillassot will also hold the position of deputy CEO. He will take up his position on 1 September.

Meanwhile Orange has announced that Ramon Fernandez will become the operator’s new CFO on the same date.

Fernandez, who will also hold the post of deputy CEO, is a senior civil servant and currently director general of the French treasury. His appointment is subject to approval by the country’s ethics committee.

Paillassot has been CEO delegate of retail LCL, a unit of France’s Credit Agricole, since May 2011, and was deputy CEO from 2007 to 2011. Previously, he was chairman of GE Money Bank in France.