"BRD – Groupe Société Générale informs investors, following the approval of the Romanian Central Bank, that Mr. Guy Marie Charles Poupet is the new BRD – Groupe Société Générale S.A President - General Manager, starting with January 1 2010" a communiqué sent to the Romanian Stock Exchange reads on Tuesday.

The document was signed by BRD general secretary Gheorghe Marinel and confirms officially that Patrick Gelin gives up his mandate in the administration council and his BRD-SocGen president - general manager role. Gelin's decision is "a personal decision to redraw from the professional activity, fully agreed by the Société Générale leadership", after a 40 years-long career with SocGen.

Poupet left the vice-president and Managing Director roles at a Société Générale subsidiary in Egypt, namely National Société Générale Bank (NSGB), after having run the stock exchange department in SocGen Central.