The former chief executive of Malta International Airport, Markus Klaushofer, told an industrial tribunal today that allegations that he had divulged sensitive information was “concocted” and part of “bullying tactics” to smear his reputation.
Mr Klaushofer gave a statement before an industrial tribunal which is considering his case of unfair dismissal from MIA.
Mr Klaushofer, an Austrian national who held the post since January 2012, vehemently denied passing on any sensitive company information.
On the contrary, he said, he had stopped the flow of sensitive financial information from MIA to Vienna International Airport (the biggest shareholder in MIA), which was being done behind the back of the Maltese government and other shareholders.
This, he said, was the only major issue he could recall having with VIE, which was insisting on receiving the information despite legal advice that it was an “illegal process” which was “in breach of listing regulations”.
He claimed that it was the airport management that “presumably” leaked the story about his departure to newspaper MaltaToday six months later.
“The purpose of this concocted story is to put me in a bad light and create doubt in my integrity,” he said in his statement.
Mr Klaushofer explained in some detail how he was summoned to a meeting while he was in Vienna attending a board meeting.
The meeting, held on January 21, was with Nikolaus Gretzmacher and his predecessor, Julian Jaeger, both representatives of Vienna International Airport (VIE). Mr Gretzmacher is also chairman of the MIA.
Mr Klaushofer said Mr Jaeger referred to the “atmosphere” between him and the chairman and said it would be better for everyone if he resigned his post.
He disagreed, saying that during his tenure the company had flourished and was achieving very good results.
Mr Klaushofen said that Mr Jaeger then proceeded to read an internal MIA memo concerned issues of confidentiality and professional secrecy but at no point did it indicate any wrongdoing by him, he said.
“I specifically asked if I had done anything wrong but both Mr Jaeger and Mr Gretzmacher avoided [giving] the answer,” he said.
Mr Jaeger offered him a €400,000 golden handshake on condition he did not take the issue to court, a tribunal or any authority and that he refrained from making any “negative remarks about MIA”.
Mr Klaushofer said the offer was in the form of a draft agreement which he refused to sign as he felt “it was a form of blackmail” and “a direct manoeuvre by VIE to get rid of me”.
“When I refused what was being suggested to me, [Mr] Jaeger turned aggressive and stated that if I do not take up the offer I will be very sorry as ‘things will get very dirty’,” Mr Klaushofen claimed, adding that he was then informed that they would ask for his dismissal.
At an MIA board meeting a few minutes later, Mr Gretzmacher announced that he was going to be removed as CEO and then asked him to leave the room.
Mr Klaushofer explained that he had been employed on a three-year contract with an annual salary of €147,100, excluding perks. Before the end of his term, his contract was renewed until June 30, 2017, and had his salary increase to €175,000 a year. He also had a performance bonus of 50 per cent of his annual salary. He said there were never any issues regarding his performance.
Lawyer Cedric Mifsud is representing Mr Klaushofer and Louis Degrabriele is representing MIA.