UPDATE 1-Areva chairman quits, to become Wendel CEO-Figaro

* Areva chairman steps down to become Wendel CEO

* Areva, Wendel have no comment (Adds details)

PARIS, March 25 (Reuters) - Frederic Lemoine, the chairman at French nuclear energy group Areva CEPFi.PA who often clashed with chief executive Anne Lauvergeon, is leaving the group to join an investment firm, the Le Figaro paper said.

The newspaper said in an unsourced article on its website on Wednesday that Lemoine had announced his resignation and would join Wendel (MWDP.PA) to become chief executive there.

Earlier on Wednesday, the L'Express weekly said Wendel CEO Jean-Bernard Lafonta was leaving the firm. [ID:nLP957431]

Areva and Wendel declined comment. (Reporting by Marcel Michelson; Editing by Brian Moss)