SJ's chairman, Kenneth Bengtsson, retracts his statement about CEO Monica Lingegård's dismissal being age-related, calling his comment 'unusually stupid'. The controversy arose after Bengtsson suggested Lingegård's age was a factor in the decision, sparking accusations of age discrimination. Bengtsson clarifies that age was not a factor, attributing the decision to typical career transitions.
SJ Chairman Apologizes for 'Unusually Stupid' Comment on CEO's Dismissal
SJ Chairman Apologizes for 'Unusually Stupid' Comment on CEO's Dismissal
SJ's chairman, Kenneth Bengtsson, has reversed his stance following his statement that the company's CEO, Monica Lingegård, was dismissed due to her age, reports Dagens industri.
"Unusually stupid on my part," he writes to the newspaper.
Criticism of age discrimination has poured in since Bengtsson told Di on Sunday:
"We need a CEO who can have a perspective of five to seven years, and just looking at Monica's birth certificate, one realizes that a CEO change will occur during this period."
Monica Lingegård turns 63 this year.
"My statement about 'birth certificate' in connection with SJ's CEO's announced departure was unusually stupid on my part. It can rightly be perceived as age discrimination. I am as far from age or any other discrimination as one can be, and I unreservedly apologize if I have been perceived that way," Bengtsson's statement reads.
At the same time, he claims that Lingegård's age has nothing to do with the decision to dismiss her. Instead, he says his reasoning was more about "many wanting to step down after a long CEO career at 65," although there are many exceptions.
The reason behind the dismissal remains unclear. No opinions on Lingegård's work performance have been made public, and according to Bengtsson, it is not whistleblowing about her leadership style that is the basis for the dismissal.
Lingegård herself has stated that she would have liked to continue as CEO.