Charles-Henry de Lignac will become Managing Director of La Méridionale on 1 September, succeeding Étienne Melliani, who was appointed in January 2026.
Melliani will remain within the CMA CGM Group and is reportedly set to join its Mediterranean Short Sea Lines activities.
De Lignac, who has previously held management responsibilities at La Méridionale, becomes the company’s fourth Managing Director in around three years. The company says his appointment will ensure continuity of ongoing projects and support its next phase of development.
The management change comes as La Méridionale prepares for the delivery of two new 180-metre LNG-powered RoPax vessels in the first quarter of 2027. The ships, intended for services between mainland France and Corsica, will accommodate 1,000 passengers and freight.