SJ CEO Monica Lingegård is forced to leave her position, writes Today's industry.

Upon her departure, she will receive 6.6 million kronor in a parachute payment.

“The CEO change is taking place at the board's initiative,” says SJ's chairman of the board, Kenneth Bengtsson.

Monica Lingegård has been CEO of the state-owned train company SJ since 2020. Now the board has decided to fire her, writes Dagens Industri.

– The CEO change is taking place at the board's initiative, SJ's chairman of the board Kenneth Bengtsson tells the newspaper.

Lingegård will remain in the job until March 1 next year. After that, she will receive a parachute of 6.6 million kronor.

– Since this is a board decision, severance pay will be paid in the amount of 12 months' salary from March 1, says Kenneth Bengtsson.

The board: Wants a younger CEO

The reason behind the decision is said to be that the board wishes to ensure better continuity in the position.

– We need a CEO who can have a perspective of 5-7 years, and it is enough to look at Monica's birth certificate to realize that there will be a CEO change during this period, says Kenneth Bengtsson.

Bengtsson means by this that Monica Lingegård is approaching retirement age.

To SvD Monica Lingegård says on Sunday evening that she wanted to stay.

– It is clear that I would have liked to continue, she tells the newspaper.

When asked whether she interprets Bengtsson's statement as age discrimination, she answers:

– My thoughts are this: I'm not commenting on this right now. We'll be issuing a press release tomorrow morning.

Dagens industri has previously reported that harsh criticism has been directed at Monica Lingegård's leadership in anonymous whistleblower letters to both SJ's board and the government offices. 

Who will succeed Monica Lingegård will be announced on Monday morning.

Source: Expressen.se