Marie-Thérèse Rossel
Encyclopedia
Marie-Thérèse Rossel was a Belgian
newspaper editor and businesswoman who headed the Rossel
publishing company for fifty years.
Born in Ixelles, her father Victor Rossel was editor and manager of Le Soir
, a French language
newspaper published in Belgium founded by Victor's father Émile Rossel. During the First World War and the occupation of Belgium by Germany
, the family went into exile at Bournemouth
in England
. On their return, Marie-Thérèse worked in the family business and succeeded her father as head of the family company on his death in 1935 when she was aged only 25. She headed the company in its various forms until her death.
Until 1946 Le Soir was edited by her appointee, lawyer Lucien Fuss, but Marie-Thérèse took on the editorial direction of the newspaper on Fuss's death and edited the paper until 1969 when she handed over to son-in-law Jean Corvilain.
She oversaw a considerable expansion of the Rossel business, an expansion which later led to conflict with French
publisher Robert Hersant
, owner of Le Figaro
, who became a significant minority investor in Rossel in the 1980s.
She was the recipient of several honours including the Order of Leopold and the French Légion d'honneur
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
newspaper editor and businesswoman who headed the Rossel
Rossel (Belgium)
Rossel is a major media group in Brussels and Wallonia, the French-speaking part of Belgium. The daily newspaper Le Soir is one of their main and most successful publications...
publishing company for fifty years.
Born in Ixelles, her father Victor Rossel was editor and manager of Le Soir
Le Soir
Le Soir is a Berliner Format Belgian newspaper. Le Soir was founded in 1887 by Emile Rossel. It is the most popular Francophone newspaper in Belgium, and considered a newspaper of record.-Editorial stance:...
, a French language
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
newspaper published in Belgium founded by Victor's father Émile Rossel. During the First World War and the occupation of Belgium by Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, the family went into exile at Bournemouth
Bournemouth
Bournemouth is a large coastal resort town in the ceremonial county of Dorset, England. According to the 2001 Census the town has a population of 163,444, making it the largest settlement in Dorset. It is also the largest settlement between Southampton and Plymouth...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. On their return, Marie-Thérèse worked in the family business and succeeded her father as head of the family company on his death in 1935 when she was aged only 25. She headed the company in its various forms until her death.
Until 1946 Le Soir was edited by her appointee, lawyer Lucien Fuss, but Marie-Thérèse took on the editorial direction of the newspaper on Fuss's death and edited the paper until 1969 when she handed over to son-in-law Jean Corvilain.
She oversaw a considerable expansion of the Rossel business, an expansion which later led to conflict with French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
publisher Robert Hersant
Robert Hersant
Robert Hersant was a French newspaper magnate with right-wing political views.- Biography :Hersant was born in Vertou, Loire-Atlantique....
, owner of Le Figaro
Le Figaro
Le Figaro is a French daily newspaper founded in 1826 and published in Paris. It is one of three French newspapers of record, with Le Monde and Libération, and is the oldest newspaper in France. It is also the second-largest national newspaper in France after Le Parisien and before Le Monde, but...
, who became a significant minority investor in Rossel in the 1980s.
She was the recipient of several honours including the Order of Leopold and the French Légion d'honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
.