Arnaud Lagardère, heir to one of France’s largest and most powerful industrial empires, likes a pretty girl. No would would care except that, according to The Economist, the 49-year-old has been playing hooky from board meetings.

Now this wouldn’t matter either, if Lagardère were a little family-owned business. But, sadly, it is not. It is a media, aerospace and defense GIANT which includes such baubles as Airbus, Eurocopter, and Astrium as as well as Lagardère Publishing, the world’s second-largest publisher.

Sharesholders are not thrilled. Especially since young Arnaud is supposed to become EADS’ chairman.

Under the amusing title “Bad Heir Day”,  The Economist dryly notes that: ”Executives at EADS are dismayed to see their future boss behave like a nincompoop.”

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