Berlin officials remove BVG leading figure from position
Berlin, Germany - Eva Kreienkamp, the head of Berlin's public transport company BVG, has been dismissed and suspended by the supervisory board, effective immediately. The decision comes amidst several serious concerns, including allegations of homophobia, poor leadership, internal conflicts, and staff complaints, which have led to a toxic work environment and diminished trust within the company.
The accusations of homophobia stem from reports of Kreienkamp's alleged creation of a hostile work environment for LGBTQ+ employees. These allegations, which have contributed significantly to the growing dissatisfaction within the company and public, have been a source of intense scrutiny.
Critics have also pointed to Kreienkamp's leadership style as ineffective and problematic, with issues such as lack of transparency, poor communication, and decisions that negatively impacted employee morale and BVG’s operational performance.
Internal staff unrest has been a recurring theme, with multiple complaints from employees highlighting a toxic workplace atmosphere under her leadership. This has led to diminished trust and confidence in her ability to manage the organization effectively.
The negative publicity surrounding these allegations has intensified public and political scrutiny, ultimately pressuring the BVG supervisory board to act.
In a surprising turn of events, Henrik Falk, who has been chairman of the Hamburg Hochbahn AG for seven years, has been announced as Kreienkamp's successor. Falk, who was already considered a favourite for Nikutta's succession, will now take over at the beginning of 2024.
During his time at the BVG, Falk was involved in the image campaign "Weil wir dich lieben" (Because we love you), and his task now will be to ensure that there are no more doubts about the promise of tolerance within the company.
It is worth noting that a recent report by the "Süddeutsche Zeitung" suggests that the internal atmosphere at the BVG differs from its external image. Two employees of the "Rainbow Network" within the BVG have stated that systemic mobbing and hate, as suggested, does not exist within the company.
Eva Kreienkamp's contract with the Berlin transport company runs until September 2023. The dismissal and suspension of Kreienkamp require confirmation at the shareholders' meeting on Thursday. The supervisory board's decision to dismiss Kreienkamp was not provided with reasons in their announcement.
Rumours suggest that Kreienkamp lacks leadership strength, but the full extent of the issues within the BVG under her leadership remains to be seen. The new leadership under Falk will undoubtedly face significant challenges as they work to restore trust and improve the work environment within the company.
- Amidst the allegations against Eva Kreienkamp, her leadership style in the finance and public-transit industry has been criticized for lack of transparency, poor communication, and decisions that negatively impacted employee morale and BVG’s operational performance.
- The newly appointed leader, Henrik Falk, who has been announced as Kreienkamp’s successor, will face challenges in rebuilding trust and improving the work environment within the transportation industry, as rumors suggest Kreienkamp lacked leadership strength.
- The public scrutiny and internal conflicts within BVG, including allegations of homophobia, have led to a toxic work environment and raised concerns about the company's image in the finance and industry sectors, particularly regarding issues of tolerance and diversity.
