Carrefour says CEO will be interim European head

PARIS, Nov 4 (Reuters) - The head of Carrefour's European operations is leaving and will be replaced on an interim basis by the group's chief executive Lars Olofsson, the French retailer said on Wednesday, confirming press reports.

The departure of Guy Yraeta, just before the crucial pre-Christmas period, marks the second high-profile management exit in less than a month.

Carrefour declined to explain why he was leaving.

"Lars Olofsson will be in charge of the (European) division until a replacement is named," a spokeswoman told Reuters.

Guy Yraeta worked at Carrefour for 33 years. Last month, Alain Souillard, head of hypermarkets, left the group after his division posted poor third-quarter sales.

"This sends the message to other managers that if they don't perform, they are next," John David Roeg, analyst at ING, told Reuters.

Another analyst, who did not wish to be named, said Yraeta's exit could be a bad omen for the performance of the European division.

Carrefour shares which have risen 8 percent since Jan. 1, were up 1.4 percent at 1512 GMT.

(Reporting by Lionel Laurent and Noelle Mennella, writing by Astrid Wendlandt; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)