IKEA France’s CEO suspected of spying

Ikea France’s management placed under
suspicion

Versailles judicial police has brought in Stefan Vanoverbeke, Ikea France’s
CEO, his predecessor Jean Louis Baillot and current Chief
Financial Officer Darius Rychert on suspicion of being an accomplice to the unlawful gathering of personal
information and violation of professional confidentiality.  Vanoverbeke, through his attorney, denies any
involvement in the matter.

Ikea France already had to weather the storm last year, when it became apparent its internal safety service systematically
screened personnel. Their run-ins with the law and even their bank records were requested. Ikea apparently also
requested to see the criminal record for annoying customers.

Friendly police officers helped to
get the information and were paid for it, while Ikea’s management knew all
about it – as the Versailles judicial police now believes. The
illegally obtained information was then used to fire employees or to win court
cases against customers.

Proof for 9 out of 29 stores

At first, Ikea claimed this tactic had only
been used in one or two stores, but police research has found proof of
illegal activity in at least 9 out of 29 stores.

Not only Ikea’s management is now
suspect, Ikea itself is too. The furniture chain has to pay 500,000 euro,
as a safeguard for future damages towards to the victims. The company has now
written stricter behaviour guidelines and has sacked four members of the board.

(Translated by Gary Peeters)