On 17 February 2018, the President of the French Senate, Gérard Larcher, appointed Joëlle COTTENYE as a member of the Arcep College.
The President of the Senate stated that he "wished to appoint to ARCEP a member who is attentive to regional planning and equipment, familiar with local realities, and able to bring to the College the concern for regional balance".
Joëlle COTTENYE had a career as a teacher before becoming involved in public affairs. In March 2001, she was elected deputy mayor of Hem (Nord), regional councillor in 2010, general councillor in 2011, and departmental councillor in 2015. Since April 2015, Joëlle COTTENYE has been vice-president of the Nord departmental council.
Joëlle COTTENYE succeeds Françoise BENHAMOU, whose term of office as a member of the Arcep college has come to an end. Arcep acknowledges Françoise BENHAMOU's valuable contribution to the work of the Authority.
Arcep's College comprises seven members: Sébastien SORIANO (Chairman), Serge ABITEBOUL, Pierre-Jean BENGHOZI, Joëlle COTTENYE, Philippe DISTLER, Monique LIEBERT-CHAMPAGNE and Martine LOMBARD. Three of them, including its Chairman, are appointed by the President of the Republic. The other four are appointed respectively by the President of the National Assembly and the President of the Senate. Appointed for a term of six years, the members of the Arcep college are irrevocable and non-renewable.