Long knives come out at Ciech after elections

Two top executives, namely Krzysztof Zajkowski, head of the phosphates division, and Miroslaw Kwiatkowski, chief executive of Soda Motwy, have either already lost or are expected to lose their jobs soon. Senior executives of the Ciech group approached by Puls Biznesu declined to comment but confessed surprise off the record at the news. Waldemar Grzegorczyk, Ciech's new spokesman, declined to comment beyond saying: "We will discuss the matter at a press conference next week, during which we will also unveil our acquisition plans." Some observers have linked the changes at Ciech with the outcome of last week's mayoral elections in Warsaw, which saw the defeat of the outgoing PiS administration at the hands of PO. Ciech's chief executive is Miroslaw Kochalski, the former acting president of Warsaw and a close associate of the Kaczynski brothers plus the executives thought to be on the verge of sacking were appointed by Kochalski's predecessor, Ludwik Klinkosz, who was close to SLD. He was replaced by Mr. Kochalski in late July.Kochalski may now want to find jobs for his former colleagues at Warsaw's town hall according to some observers. (Puls Biznesu, p. 10) R.M.