PARIS and NEW YORK, November 19, 2001 - Vivendi Universal [Paris Bourse: EX FP; NYSE: V] announced today the appointment of Laura Martin as Executive Vice President of Investor Relations and Financial Strategy, effective January 1, 2002. Prior to her appointment as head of Investor Relations at
Vivendi Universal, Ms. Martin served as a managing director and senior equity research analyst at Credit Suisse First Boston.

In making the announcement, Jean-Marie Messier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Vivendi Universal, said: 'I am thrilled that Laura is joining the Vivendi Universal team. Having been a top U.S. media and entertainment analyst for many years, she has a deep and well-developed knowledge of the industry, as well as its strategic focus. Her decision to join the Vivendi Universal team demonstrates, I believe, the attractiveness of our company and our business prospects. She brings to us her energy and credibility at a time when Vivendi Universal is focusing its efforts to develop critical relationships with the U.S. investment community. As we have previously reported, beginning in 2002 Vivendi Universal will begin to report financial results using U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

'Laura will also spend time with our European investors to prepare them for this accounting change and work to augment the understanding of our strategies and vision within that investment community. With her knowledge and proven leadership capabilities, Laura will bring her invaluable experience to the whole Vivendi Universal team and our shareholders.'

Ms. Martin succeeds Paris-based Ariane de Lamaze, who left the company last month to pursue other opportunities. Added Mr. Messier: 'I am very proud and pleased with the work that was begun by Ariane de Lamaze, who preceded Laura Martin in this key position. For more than six years, Ariane played an instrumental role in the transformation of Vivendi, most recently as head of Vivendi Universal Investor Relations. She worked tirelessly - especially with our European investor base - to have our company well-known, and showcased as an investment opportunity.'

In her new position, Ms. Martin will report to Jean-Marie Messier, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and Guillaume Hannezo, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. She will be the principal contact with the investment community and will be responsible for directing and developing the Vivendi Universal investor relations program, with an emphasis on the U.S. and European investment communities.
Ms. Martin will be charged with responsibility for broadening the investment community's understanding of the strategy, business plans and the outlook for Vivendi Universal - in all of its businesses - in order to optimize the value of Vivendi Universal for its shareholders. Those include: music, publishing, film, telecoms and the company's Internet businesses.

Commenting on her appointment, Ms. Martin said: 'Vivendi Universal is at the forefront of the most important secular trend driving media valuations over the next decade: the digitization of content for delivery over a global footprint. Vivendi Universal's dominant content franchises in music, film and publishing increase the value of its distribution assets in telecom and the Internet. Vivendi Universal's global perspective enhances its growth characteristics. I am enthusiastic about joining this visionary management team, as the company enters its second full year of operations as one of the world's leading media and communications companies.'

Ms. Martin holds a BA degree from Stanford and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Over the past 20 years she has worked as an investment banker, buy-side analyst / portfolio manager and sell-side analyst. From 1983 - 1990, she worked at Drexel Burnham Lambert in Beverly Hills, California, as an investment banker and in 1991 began working on the buy-side for Capital Research & Management, one of the largest owners of media stocks in the world. In 1994, she joined Credit Suisse First Boston, where she was a nationally ranked analyst in both the cable and entertainment industries.

Vivendi Universal - Company Description

Media and Communications and Environmental Services: The media and communications business is divided into five business segments: Music, Publishing, TV and Film, Telecoms and Internet. The Music business is conducted though Universal Music Group, which produces, markets and distributes recorded music throughout the world in all major genres. Universal Music Group also manufactures, sells and distributes video products in the United States and internationally, and licenses music copyrights in 63 countries worldwide. The Publishing business is a worldwide content leader in its core markets: education/literature, games, and healthcare information. It provides content across multiple platforms. TV and Film business produces and distributes motion picture, television and home video/DVD products worldwide, operates and has ownership interests in a number of cable and pay-TV channels, engages in the licensing of merchandising and film property rights and operates theme parks and retail stores around the world. The Telecoms business provides a broad range of telecommunications services, including mobile and fixed telephony, Internet access and data services and transmission, principally in Europe. The Internet business manages the strategic Internet initiatives and new online ventures for Vivendi Universal. Utilizing advanced digital distribution technology, the Internet business develops e-commerce, e-services and thematic portals that offer access to the Internet via a variety of devices, including mobile phones, PDAs, interactive TV and computers. Vivendi Environnement is a 63-percent effectively owned subsidiary of Vivendi Universal, which operates the environmental services business, with operations around the globe.

The Company's corporate website is located at http://www.vivendiuniversal.com. The Company's financial website is located at http://finance.vivendiuniversal.com.

Important Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from the forward-looking statements as a result of a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside our control, including but not limited to: the risk that Vivendi Universal will be unable to further identify, develop and achieve success for new products, services and technologies; that Vivendi Universal will face increased competition and that the effect on pricing, spending, third-party relationships and revenues of such competition will limit or reduce Vivendi Universal's revenue and/or income; that Vivendi Universal will be unable to establish and maintain relationships with commerce, advertising, marketing, technology, and content providers; and that Vivendi Universal will be unable to obtain or retain, upon acceptable terms, the licenses and permits necessary to operate and expand its businesses; as well as the risks described in the documents Vivendi Universal has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of documents filed by Vivendi Universal with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov or directly from Vivendi Universal.

CONTACTS :

Media Relations:
New York
Anita Larsen
212.572.1118
Mia Carbonell
212.572.7556

Paris
Antoine Lefort
011-33-1-71-71-1180
Alain Delrieu
011-33-1-71-71-1086

Investors Relations:
New York
Eileen McLaughlin
212.572.8961

Paris
Laurence Daniel
011-33-1-71-71-1233