Bjerke believes must resign as CEO of DNB – TV 2

Sun revealed Aftenposten that DNB subsidiary DNB Luxembourg in the period 2006 to 2010 helped around 40 Norwegian customers to establish companies in tax haven Seychelles.

The Norwegian authorities have for years fought against the use of tax havens and Industry Minister Monica Mæland has already asked the Board of DNB a written explanation about gigantavsløringene.

– I have been clear that we have high expectations for how companies with state ownership occurs, the corporate social responsibility we have, and I now expects that they get all the facts on the table, says Mæland.

the Board of DNB has asked Rune Bjerke to account what has happened in the case.

Do Bjerke must withdraw

Petter Gottschalk, a professor at the Institute of management and Organisation at BI believes Rune Bjerke should now resign as CEO.

– The most powerful implication is that Rune Bjerke withdraws. It must be his choice, for there will be no board like kicking him. It is an entirely different process, says Gottschalk TV 2.

Gottschalk thinks it is hardly enough to have an internal investigation.

– It turns out in large companies is that each time it appears unacceptable circumstances, so they make some ethical guidelines. But at the same time does not change people’s behavior. Nothing happens, and they do that before. It is only when the consequences for people that change behavior. That has not happened in this case yet, and it must now happen, he said.

BI professor believes Bjerke has repeatedly demonstrated that he does not handle emergencies well.

Rejects that Bjerke withdraws

Rune Bjerke became chief executive of DNB in ​​2007 and has had the ultimate responsibility for almost the entire period this contact took place.

DNB takes self-criticism, but denies that Rune Bjerke considering pulling itself.

– the Board of Directors at any time decide who will lead the DNB says Thomas Midteide, communications director at DNB.

– But considering Rune Bjerke even to resign?

– there have not been any discussions round t it now, no, says Midteide.

Rune Bjerke has not been available for TV 2 Monday morning. Nor Aftenposten has Bjerke wanted to comment on the matter.

Do DNB has continued the practice

Petter Gottschalk has researched economic crime in 15 years. He is sure that the DNB still be made for practice, despite the fact that DNB even claim that it was closed a few years ago.

– I think the practice flourishes as before, but through other channels and with other actors. There will surely come a disclosure in 2020 of the practice in 2016, so this just goes on, says Gottschalk.

– Symbol action by Bjerke draws themselves, will give a shock wave throughout the DNB and then people will start reading the rules, and maybe even follow the code of ethics, says BI professor.

DNB rejects accusations.

– All these companies referred to are already laid down. So we, unlike others, has already taken steps to end this. Beyond that will claim almost only stand as his speculation, says Thomas Midteide DNB.

DNB takes self-criticism

The bank sent Sunday evening issued a press release where they admit that they have assisted about 40 customers create a company in the Seychelles.

– This is a closed chapter of our business in Luxembourg. But we should have been these matters besides, says Rune Bjerke in the press release.

Director of Communications his elaborates:

– This was about setting up companies that could have good and legitimate purposes, but they can also be used to hide money abroad, why should DNB never done this even though it is perfectly legal, says Thomas Midteide to TV2.

– Was it poor judgment by DNB?

– I would certainly say that it is far beyond what we should be doing and this is not something processed by any organ in Norway, but nevertheless it is our responsibility that this happened and therefore we will now spend some time to determine exactly what has happened and clean up in it.

Aftenposten points out that they have no basis to conclude that DNB or customers have broken laws in Norway, Luxembourg or the Seychelles. But corporate executive told the newspaper that “the structure could be used to hide assets and income abroad.”

Got to know about the scandal of the media

DNB claims that all the companies that were created during the period already been completed.

there was a demand for this type of company in the market in Luxembourg, but it does not mean that we should have done it. Today it is a completely different regulations and ethical guidelines in DNB than it was ten years ago, says Midteide.

He told TV 2 that the leadership of Norway did not know about the case before Aftenposten contacted gigantavsløringen few weeks ago.

– should not you known what the subsidiary in Luxembourg did?

– Yes, I am largely agree and that’s one of the things we’ll find out as we do internally bank, says Thomas Midteide.