Majority shareholder of the Crans-Montana ski lifts (CMA) and owner of a dozen companies in the resort, the Czech billionaire Radovan Vitek wants to restore order in his Valais businesses. Layoffs are planned, but their extent is not yet known.
Radovan Vitek wants to evaluate all positions
Revealed Friday by “Le Temps”, the information was confirmed to Keystone-ATS by Philippe Magistretti, president of CMA and henchman of Radovan Vitek in Valais. He speaks of a “cleansing campaign” and a “bolt-tightening” operation.
According to him, Radovan Vitek wants to evaluate all positions, see if they are justified or not. The objective is to apply to Crans-Montana “the same discipline and culture” as in the other companies overseen by the holding company of the Czech businessman, CPI Property Group.
No deadline
Philippe Magistretti explains that there is no “deadline” for carrying out this restructuring. The number of people who might be laid off, as well as the names of the companies that might be affected, are not yet known.
“Le Temps” evokes in particular the real estate agency One or the Summit Clinic (cosmetic surgery and preventive medicine). The newspaper also recalls that the ski lifts have just closed their marketing department, resulting in the dismissal of six people.
“Priority to the municipalities”
These ski lifts, which have accumulated losses in recent years, might also soon be sold. The three municipalities of Crans-Montana, Icogne and Lens would be interested. But Philippe Magistretti indicates Friday “that a private and an industrialist in the field of tourism” are also in the running.
“Priority would however go to the municipalities. We don’t want to give them a baby behind their backs,” he said.