Telecoms equipment group Alcatel Lucent  on Tuesday announced the departure of both its chairman and chief executive, following turmoil since it was created from a transatlantic merger two years ago.

Chief executive Pat Russo, long rumored to be on an ejector seat, will leave before the end of the year while Serge Tchuruk, the architect of the merger, will leave on Oct 1., the company said in a statement.

The move comes weeks after shareholders heaped criticism on top directors following a string of profit warnings and collapsing share prices and approved measures that would make it easier to oust them.

Alcatel-Lucent, the world's largest provider fixed-line telecoms equipment, was created when Paris-based Alcatel acquired Lucent of the United States in 2006.

Source:Reuters