Patrick de Carolis, France Television (France)

When Patrick de Carolis replaced Marc Tessier as president of France Television last summer, the community was optimistic about his tenure. Here was a journalist and producer taking over the reins of the country's five public channels, which together command more than 38% audience share. He owned his own prodco, Eclectic Productions, and as presenter of France 2's popular current affairs show Des raciness et des ailes (Roots and Wings), he himself commissioned docs. He understood the industry. He'd also won his bid for the presidency by promising to improve the quality of programming on the channels while also raising viewership numbers.