Thomson, the French consumer electronics group, has turned to BNP Paribas and Goldman Sachs to advise on a €1.1bn strategic plan under which the chief executive will step down and US private equity group Silver Lake Partners will invest $500m (€408m).

Frank Dangeard, chief financial officer of France Télécom and chairman of Thomson will replace Charles Dehelly as Thomson chief executive. Dehelly will step down but remain at the company.