Turmoil surrounding the chain XXL – derogatory comments on the president's facebook account

Barely a month has passed since the Per Sigvardsson took office as the new ceo of the retail chain XXL. In spite of it is he already in blåsvädret after it on his account on Facebook has been written derogatory comments, reports Aftonbladet.

Among other things, writes Per Sigvardssons account, words such as ”left-wing” and ”skäggbarn” when talking about journalists or immigrants. A week ago published a post on the ceo's account to klimataktivisten Greta Thunberg is ”as close to down as you can get”.

on Facebook just a few days before the XXL published a photo of a model with Downs syndrome, dressed in the chain's products. In the comments section criticizing the irate customers Per Sigvardsson.

A user writes that it feels wrong to XXL use of a model with Downs syndrome when the ”s newly appointed PRESIDENT, obviously, has a right skewed view of people with Downs and other funktionsvarianter”.

According to the Per Sigvardsson has someone hijacked his account on Facebook. The event is reported to the police and the derogatory postings are removed.

" When I reported him to the police postings said the police that this type of piracy will become more common, the only reasonable explanation is that I was connected in a public network between 8 and 9 april, he says to DN.

" Absolutely not and nor with my own values. I have taken the precautions on my social media sites, such as Facebook, and also changed to a password that is difficult to crack, " he says.

Furthermore, says the ceo that he rarely is active on Facebook. Like most, he is active about once a week. In addition, notifications have been turned off on the postings, which means that the Per Sigvardsson does not receive notifications when other people comment on the postings. When it comes to the post about Greta Thunberg says the ceo that he looks up to her.

– You can think what you want about Greta, but she is the only person that really created a debate about the environment, I admire her work and I myself am very environmentally conscious, I have made several measures to reduce my own emissions, " says Per Sigvardsson.

– All the forms of these resurrections affect confidence, it makes you feel very vulnerable as a senior, you are constantly being exposed. I have the full confidence of both the board and the managers, I have informed them about the incident and told them how we have acted, " he says.

XXL has previously received criticism after a former employee at the chain testified that the staff was ordered to do push-ups – if they came late or said ”customer” rather than ”guest”. Per Sigvardsson demanded that it should cease.

Sportkedjans founder, Øivind Tidemandsen, describe a ceo who is a sensible guy.

He has been hacked, this is not something he stands for at all. He is a sensible guy who I have known for many years, " says Øivind Tidemandsen to the Norwegian E24.

Now, the target chain focus towards creating new procedures for both the work culture and CYBER security, says Øivind Tidemandsen. The aim is to avoid that something similar affects to the other managers within the business.

Read more: XXL's ceo on the armhävningsbestraffningen: Shall cease immediately