Hasselt, 2 February 2011 – In consultation with the Werck family, the Limburg investment firm LRM has appointed a new CEO at the publishing house, Uitgeverij Clavis.
Last week, the Dutch author of children’s books, Rian Visser, expressed some major criticism for Clavis, a publisher of books for children and youngsters, on her blog. According to Visser, for years, the publisher had either failed to pay its authors and illustrators or has paid them much too late, and was also withholding royalty payments. This blog posting unleashed an enormous flood of responses from other Flemish and Dutch authors and illustrators.
LRM is a minority shareholder in Clavis, and is bound and determined to clear up this situation once and for all. To achieve this, a Board of Directors convened by LRM, in consultation with the Werck family, made the decision to appoint a new CEO, Willy Vanden Poel.
On the instructions of LRM, since February 2010, Willy Vanden Poel has served as a substitute on the Clavis Board of Directors. He has accepted this CEO appointment, and will place a priority on mapping out the current situation at Clavis.
Phillippe Werck will remain responsible for creative policy within the publishing company.
Within the scope of his assignment, Willy Vanden Poel has already been in contact with Mr Koen Stassijns, vice-chairman of the Flemish Authors Association (VAV). The two agreed to discuss the situation as soon as possible.
Among other positions, Willy Vanden Poel was the founder and CEO of Radson Alutherm and currently holds several offices on the boards of various organisations. He has also been active in recent years as an interim manager at several different companies.
About LRM
LRM is a profit-driven investor and provides entrepreneurs a unique combination of risk capital and property. Oxigen for growth ! LRM is a generalist, but has built up specific competences in ICT & Media, Life Sciences, Cleantech & Energy. The activities of LRM contribute to the economical development and overall employment in the province of Limburg. LRM focuses on all sectors and enterprises, from small over medium to large. www.lrm.be
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Jeffrey Alenus
Commercial Director
T +32 11 24 68 19
M +32 475 93 03 61
E j.alenus@lrm.be