Businessman Jean-Baptiste Aldigé, who left his position at the head of the Biarritz club (Pro D2) in April, will bounce back by taking over as chairman of the board of directors of Nice, promoted to Pro D2 next season.
The 40-year-old from Agenais will join the organization chart of Stade Niçois Rugby, French National champion, AFP learned on Sunday, confirming information from the regional daily Sud Ouest. Former president of the management board of Biarritz Olympique from June 2018 to last April, he will occupy the same function in Nice, which will change its structure from SAS (simplified joint stock company) to SASP (professional sports limited company).
The current president, Régis Brandinelli, will head the supervisory board. Jean-Baptiste Aldigé arrives on the Côte d’Azur with a group of investors including Louis-Vincent Gave, the former owner of the BO and director of a financial company registered in Hong Kong.
A first prestigious recruit
Mr. Gave, who was president of the supervisory board in Biarritz, will not be part of the organization chart this time: he will, however, participate in the increase of two million euros in the capital of the Nice club, thus allowing a budget of 8.5 million euros, compared to 6.5 currently.
The first recruitment of Jean-Baptiste Aldigé is confirmed. This is the 32-year-old New Zealand third row Jordan Taufua, Samoan international, released from his last year of contract by Lyon (Top 14) and who will sign a three-year contract with Nice.
At the beginning of March, Mr. Aldigé, who arrived at the BO when the five-time French champion had one foot in the third division, announced to the Biarritz players his desire to sell the club for a symbolic euro.
The Basque club, which remained in Pro D2, was then taken over by a trio of former players led by Shaun Hegarty, with financial assistance from investors including conservative billionaire Pierre-Édouard Stérin, the 104th richest person in France and head of Smartbox (gift boxes).
