Criticism of Stockholm’s governor Anna Kinberg Batra is growing, after several revelations about questionable recruitments, two of which are to be investigated by the Ombudsman for Justice (JO).
On Monday, TV4 Nyheterna was able to tell that several independent sources within the County Administrative Board in Stockholm stated 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.
One of the applicants, Mikael Jeppson, did not meet the requirements but got the job anyway. TV4 Nyheterna has seen his application, which shows that he lacks an academic degree, which was a requirement in the advertisement.
A source tells us that Anna Kinberg Batra specifically wanted Jeppson for this position: “They get along very well and she simply wanted him – and then it would be arranged”.
Evidenced by email exchange
TV4 Nyheterna has requested the email exchange in the management of the County Administrative Board in Stockholm County, which confirms that Mikael Jeppson did not meet the requirements. In an email, HR manager Anne-Li Nagy writes to Anna Kinberg Batra that Mikael Jeppson is not the most suitable applicant for the job.
“The two internal candidates lack one of the requirements of the requirements profile (academic degree), which is why we do not see Mikael as an option. Based on the interview, we also understand that Mikael has less experience in the security area than X.”
Anna Kinberg Batra has a different opinion from the personnel department and argues in an email to the HR manager why she considers Mikael Jeppson to be the most suitable for the job, despite the fact that he does not meet all the requirements.
“After three good interviews with three good candidates, I want to hire Mikael Jeppson as head of department”.
Then the former moderate leader writes, among other things, that Jeppson’s “documented merit and skill” and that his “clear ambition to contribute to the management group as a group, and thus to the management and development of the authority” as some of the arguments why she wants to hire Jeppson.
No academic degree
In the same message, she also highlights that Jeppson lacks an academic degree – which was a requirement for the job.
“MJ’s obvious and biggest disadvantage is, of course, the (only) ska requirement in the ad that he does not meet, of course I have both asked and thought about that. And here would like to invoke and justify my decision with his:
• Academic studies at a high level, in relevant both business and leadership subjects
• SSR experience, which I believe constitutes special merits in cooperation and management of activities absolutely central to the role
I would now like to ask you to help me implement this.”
TV4 News is looking for Anne-Li Nagy for a comment.