Modernine president to fight dismissal

MCOT, operator of Modernine TV, said yesterday that its board's decision to terminate the employment contract of Tanawat Wansom as president with immediate effect was proper to secure the company's benefits.

Tanawat, meanwhile, is planning to fight the decision.

The termination followed an investigation of Tanawat's performance over the past year, following complaints from the MCOT labour union. Last month, a group of MCOT employees sent an open letter to PM's Office Minister Kritsana Seehalak asking for an investigation.

On September 28 the MCOT board set up a fact-finding committee to investigate the issues raised by the labour union and the employees.

Among the complaints, MCOT staff believed that reshuffles under the new organisational structure proposed by Tanawat would create rifts.

They also pressed for Tanawat to explain CSR (corporate social responsibility) spending of more than Bt400 million a year.

The chairman of MCOT's directors, Surapon Nitikraipot, said that after the 15-day investigation, the committee's key findings included slow performance, neglect of compliance and failures in human-resource management and good governance.

The board believed those things could lead to conflict in the organisation.

Since the situation raised the possibility of the company losing business, the board had agreed unanimously to terminate the company president's employment contract.

In practical terms, the termination was effective yesterday, but the official date will be November 13 due to the need to give 30 days' notice.

Tanawat will receive about Bt2 million in compensation for his termination. MCOT, meanwhile, has appointed executive vice president Sura Gaintanasilp as acting president until a new president can be appointed.

The MCOT chairman insisted that the decision was based on the company's interests, and without political motivation, despite many controversial reports following the transition to the new government.

Tanawat said yesterday that the accusations against him were unfair.

He questioned the findings of the investigation committee and said he believed the decision followed a dispute between him and the board over the new structural plan for MCOT. He said he had disagreed with some key positions in new structure that had been agreed upon by the board.

Tanawat said he would investigate the possibility of taking legal action over his termination, which he said was unfair.