Several independent sources within the County Administrative Board in Stockholm tell TV4 Nyheterna that they departed from the authority’s routines when hiring a new emergency manager. The position was advertised and they had received about 70 applicants for the position.
According to a source, one of the applicants, Mikael Jeppson, was never called to an initial interview with the HR department and the county superintendent, because he did not meet the so-called “should and should” requirements for the position.
Therefore, he should never have had to complete any tests in the recruitment process. But when it came time for the final interview, Mikael Jeppson was one of the few who was called and this time directly with the County Governor.
After that he got the job.
Union critical
The union is critical of the fact that, under Anna Kinberg Batra’s leadership, they were not allowed to participate or have any influence in the recruitment. Because they entered the recruitment process late, it has been difficult for them to agree on anything, says Lisa Palmér, who chairs the ST union’s section at the County Administrative Board in Stockholm:
– It is difficult for us to know on which basis of assessment the employer has decided on the final candidate, and it is also difficult for us to be able to provide input in those recruitments ourselves, says Lisa Palmér to TV4 Nyheterna.
Another source tells TV4 Nyheterna that Anna Kinberg Batra specifically wanted Jeppson for this position and says that “they get along very well and she simply wanted him – and then it would be arranged”.
The answer from Anna Kinberg Batra
On Monday evening, Anna Kinberg Batra answers TV4 Nyheterna about how the recruitment of Mikael Jeppson went:
“Mikael Jeppson was hired as head of the emergency department in competition with several other good candidates. After interviews, it was assessed that his experiences from similar work both on an operational and strategic level, as well as his good leadership qualities, make him best suited to lead the work of strengthening Stockholm County’s preparedness in this troubled time.” writes Anna Kinberg Batra to TV4 Nyheterna.
Third recruitment on loose grounds
A few months after Anna Kinberg Batra took office as governor of Stockholm County, she hired her close friend Anna Borgs as the new top manager under her, somewhat The evening paper revealed in early April. The job was never advertised apart from a note in reception, and only Borgs applied for the job.
Later, the newspaper was able to reveal how Anna Kinberg Batra brought in another friend, the communications strategist Gunnar Ekman, who also got a top job at the county board in Stockholm. The monthly salary is SEK 90,000 and since the position was never advertised, no one else applied for the job either.
Today, TV4 Nyheterna can thus reveal a third recruitment that allegedly deviated from the authority’s routines and caused great anger among the employees.
Great anger within the County Administrative Board
At the same time, anger is simmering within the County Administrative Board in Stockholm against Anna Kinberg Batra’s actions, employees that TV4 Nyheterna spoke to are outraged.
– It’s on everyone’s lips, many are downright pissed off, partly because our economy is in shambles. And at the same time, Anna Kinberg Batra sprinkles money on friends and severance pay, says a source.
Another employee that TV4 Nyheterna has spoken to confirms the picture that people are talking about this at all levels within the authority and that people are angry, but that no one yet dares to criticize her openly with the risk of reprisals.
The controversial recruitments have already been reported and are now with the national unit against corruption.