Lombard (the CEO) won't actually be in prison.

"Yet since that term is under two years and as Lombard does not present a danger to society, he will not spend time behind bars under French court rules." [0]

[0] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-justice-orange-sen...

If that's so, then it obviously raises the question of what is the meaning of 8 months out of 12 being suspended?

I reckon it means that if he is convicted of anything in the next N years that many months gets instantly converted/added to the new sentence.

(also, I think most people missed your pun :) )