(Telecompaper) Alcatel-Lucent's board of directors has approved the appointment of Michel Combes as the company's new CEO, effective 1 April. Combes was previously CEO of Vodafone Europe and has been chairman and CEO of TDF and CFO of France Telecom. Alcatel-Lucent chairman Philippe Camus expressed confidence in the new CEO's deep knowledge of the industry and transformation experience. The outgoing CEO is Ben Verwaayen. The board also appointed Bell and Nortel veteran Jean C Monty as vice chairman with immediate effect.