picture alliance/dpa | Federico Gambarini/Marcel Kusch/dpa | Marcel Kusch
The tremors are over. The struggling department store group Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof is about to have a new investor who is actually an old acquaintance. Richard Baker wants to join the Essen-based company through his family office NRDC; according to our information, he will be officially presented on Wednesday. Bernd Beetz, who was once chairman of the supervisory board at Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof, helped him with his pitch for the department store group.
A liberation for Galeria Karstadt Kaufhof? There are considerable doubts about this among middle management and employees. The employees of the former Galeria Kaufhof have no good memories of Richard Baker. Back then, Baker came into office with big promises: wage protection, job security over five years and investments in the branches. A few months later, Baker said he didn’t want to have anything to do with it anymore, cut hundreds of jobs and cut back on investments in the branches. At the time, works councils posted a video on YouTube in which they showed Baker as Pinocchio. It’s called “The Big Lie.” Baker’s former companions assume that he will make big promises this time too. The only question is who should believe it this time.
Dog Bella always has to be there
But it wasn’t just empty promises, it was also his bizarre leadership style, report former board members. Baker took his dog Bella with him to board meetings, which is said to have often done his business in the room. Baker is said to have asked those present to remove the dog’s work, those present at the time tell us. Apparently Baker couldn’t do without his dog Bella on his flights overseas.