UPDATE 1-Nexans deputy CEO says not a candidate to replace chief executive

PARIS, March 19 (Reuters) - Pascal Portevin, the deputychief executive of French cablemaker Nexans, said onMonday he would not be a candidate for CEO after ArnaudPoupart-Lafarge announced he was stepping down in six monthstime.

"I am not a candidate for this next CEO job, my main missionis to make sure we don't waste any time in implementing ourstrategy plan which is well defined and well understood by ouroperational people," Portevin told an analysts call.

Poupart-Lafarge said he would stay in his post untilSeptember to ensure a smooth transition. Nexans will recruitboth internally and externally for a successor.

"I want to make clear what this is not: first, it is notquitting for another job ... and second this is certainly not aconflict. I am working in full harmony with my board,"Poupart-Lafarge said.

Nexans provides copper and fiber-optic cables and cablingsystems to the energy infrastructure, industry, building andLocal Area Network (LAN) markets.(Reporting by Richard Lough; Editing by Brian Love)