Orlen's new head honcho
Jacek Walczykowski, the newly appointed president of PKN Orlen, the largest company in the country, although he has not yet taken any decisions, has already become a highly controversial figure, as the procedure leading to his appointment was sharply criticized in a statement released by the State Treasury.
Indeed, one Orlen shareholder described the process of selecting the new CEO as a "corrupt procedure topped off by a terrible conclusion."
Certainly, Walczykowski was not on the list of 14 candidates for Orlen's top spot supplied by Korn/Ferry, a headhunting firm hired to help with the process of replacing Zbigniew Wróbel, who stepped down after a series of scandals that involved the firm and him personally. From the very start, the process was clouded in controversy and even before its conclusion, calls were made for an investigation into irregularities after the names of candidates were leaked to the press.
While Orlen Chairman Jan Waga declined to disclose who proposed Walczykowski, rumor has it that Waga himself, who represents minority shareholder Kulczyk Holding, did so. Walczykowski won six out of eight votes and Michał Stępniewski, who represents the Treasury, was among the two opponents of his candidacy. Stępniewski told the press that the Treasury favored Paweł Olechnowicz, who currently stands at the helm of Grupa Lotos, another domestic energy giant. He also added that the state expected the new president to implement the principles of corporate governance in the company, which have largely been ignored hitherto.
Indeed, one Orlen shareholder described the process of selecting the new CEO as a "corrupt procedure topped off by a terrible conclusion."
Certainly, Walczykowski was not on the list of 14 candidates for Orlen's top spot supplied by Korn/Ferry, a headhunting firm hired to help with the process of replacing Zbigniew Wróbel, who stepped down after a series of scandals that involved the firm and him personally. From the very start, the process was clouded in controversy and even before its conclusion, calls were made for an investigation into irregularities after the names of candidates were leaked to the press.
While Orlen Chairman Jan Waga declined to disclose who proposed Walczykowski, rumor has it that Waga himself, who represents minority shareholder Kulczyk Holding, did so. Walczykowski won six out of eight votes and Michał Stępniewski, who represents the Treasury, was among the two opponents of his candidacy. Stępniewski told the press that the Treasury favored Paweł Olechnowicz, who currently stands at the helm of Grupa Lotos, another domestic energy giant. He also added that the state expected the new president to implement the principles of corporate governance in the company, which have largely been ignored hitherto.
