National pride probably saved media mogul Jean-Marie Messier's skin, but the embattled CEO of Vivendi Universal must walk a managerial tightrope if he hopes to keep his job. A majority of fellow French board members backed the besieged chairman, while North Americans, mainly representatives of the Bronfman family who had sold Seagram and its Universal Studios and Music to Vivendi, voted to oust Messier in a tense meeting last week. The boardroom revolt reflected market alarm over Vivendi's share slide down 65% since January and concern with the group's staggering €19 billion debt. The once media-friendly Messier...
