In the wake of a wave of criticism, Jørgen Ejbøl, chairman of Jyllands-Postens Fond (Jyllands-Posten Foundation) and Jyllands-Posten Holding, has decided to repay a severance payment of 2.1 million Danish kroner. This decision was announced in a press release from the foundation on Thursday evening. The repayment comes after a period of financial tightening at the media company, including a major round of layoffs that was implemented shortly before Ejbøl’s payout. The severance payment was made in connection with Ejbøl’s 75th birthday in February, a practice that has been a tradition at Jyllands-Posten when a chairman of the foundation retires. Despite the repayment, Jørgen Ejbøl will continue in his role as chairman. This has led to criticism from various quarters, including Michael Holm, former vice chairman of the foundation. Holm criticized Ejbøl for behaving as if he owned the company and told Politiken that “decency and honesty in Denmark’s largest media house are not in order.” This case has raised questions about ethics and management practices in large Danish media companies, and how these practices affect both employees and the wider public. Ejbøl’s decision to repay the severance payment can be seen as an attempt to restore trust and integrity within the organization.

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