Société Générale today reversed its decision a year ago to split the roles of chairman and chief executive and handed both roles to Frédéric Oudéa, following last week's shock decision by Daniel Bouton to step down as chairman in the wake of what he termed "incessant attacks" and "unbearable criticism" from public quarters.

The top-level change was announced this afternoon and comes just hours before Société Générale tomorrow reports its first-quarter results.