The French government has chosen Albert Dupuy as the next high commissioner to New Caledonia.
Mr Dupuy had been the prefect in the Isere department but was demoted in July following the riots in Grenoble.
He will replace Yves Dassonville who had been appointed in 2007 after the sudden resignation of Michel Mathieu.
Mr Dassonville was expected to take a harder line in enforcing the law after a ministerial visit to Noumea was marred by unrest.
Mr Dassonville's next posting will be as prefect in the Limousin region.
