Hellenic Bank on Monday announced that it is placing its CEO, Oliver Gatzke, on leave.
According to Insider, the decision was taken following allegations by Nearchos Ioannou, CEO of Demetra Holdings (a large Hellenic Bank shareholder), who claimed that Gatzke was urging bank personnel to buy Hellenic Bank stocks as their price was undervalued.
“These actions are unacceptable, they cannot be happening. It is not the responsibility of the CEO to urge any employee to buy stocks,” Ioannou told Insider.
In a statement on Monday, the bank said: “In view of certain investigations being undertaken in relation to alleged statements and actions of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Board of Directors of the Bank has decided, in order to ensure the smooth conduct of the said investigations, that it is proper that the CEO abstains from his duties until the completion of the said investigations.”
Petros Arsalides, Company Secretary / General Manager, Chairman’s Office & Company Secretariat, will be performing the duties of the CEO.