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Upheaval at INRA - again03/December/2001 |
 D. Vancraeynest | ||||
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Dominique Vancraeynest, Brussels-based Group Managing Director of INRA (Europe), has been fired in obscure but acrimonious circumstances. The troubled group will now be run from Mölln in Germany by controlling shareholder Isa Schlöter and Hella Glagow, Managing Director of INRA Deutschland. At the same time it has been learned that minority shareholders in the group, including Lansdowne Market Research of Ireland, CSA-TMO of France, TEMO of Sweden and KEME of Greece, are being bought out by Sample Institut, INRA Deutschland's parent company, which already owns 86% of the equity. Sample, founded by the late Hartwig Schröder, is in turn owned by his widow and his daughter, Isa Schlöter. The INRA network, present in a score of counties, comprises both group subsidiaries and independent research agencies. The more unified structure now being introduced will presumably make it easier for Mrs Schlöter to pursue her aim of selling the group to a global research concern. Since Hartwig Schröder's death his daughter has been involved in a series of management upheavals at INRA. She first fell out with Helmut Jung, who was fired as Managing Director of IRA Deutschland in 1998. Last year Mrs Schlöter ousted Jean Quatresooz, the long-time Chief Executive of the INRA Group. Vancraeynest, who replaced Quatresooz, was thought to enjoy a more comfortable relationship with Mölln. The appearance turns out to have been deceptive. Hella Glagow now accuses Vancraeynest of having "damaged the business" but declines to explain what she means. She is not even willing to answer the question of whether INRA's Coordination Office in Brussels is to be kept going. It's a strange way to run a network. © Copyright Market Research News © Copyright Market Research News 
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