Vivendi names Web 3.0 chief to tackle challenge of metaverse

French and international media group Vivendi, owner of Canal+, has hired a VP for Web 3.0 tasked with spearheading the outfit’s foray into the metaverse.

Fabien Aufrechter, an expert in blockchain and metaverse technology at Vivendi-owned Havas, has been appointed vice-president, Web 3.0 at the parent company.

Aufrechter joins the Vivendi strategy and Innovation department headed by Félicité Herzog, while continuing some duties at Havas.

As part of its strategic plan, Vivendi identified Web 3.0 as a major development focus in relation to its Creation Unlimited raison d’être and supports projects in this field consistent with its CSR policy.

Fabien Aufrechter

“We are delighted to welcome Fabien Aufrechter who will bring his unique experience to help Vivendi position itself in the metaverse and, more broadly, in Web 3.0,” said Herzog, Vivendi’s chief strategy and innovation officer and member of its executive Committee.

“Following a hackathon attended by experts from all our businesses, we identified major projects within the metaverse, leveraging our intellectual properties, and are currently assessing their technical feasibility and business model. Fabien joins a dedicated task force in which all of the Group’s creative and technical talents are represented. This modus operandi gives us greater agility to promote the innovative services expected from the European metaverse”.

Aufrechter said: “Vivendi has a huge head start in Web 3.0 because of its pioneering talents, several years of internal projects, already more than a hundred clients and supported projects, as well as valuable internal audit work. Decentralized technologies represent a business lever and a major transformation tool for Vivendi. I am happy to be part of this adventure.”