In a statement, DPG Media announced that strict rules apply within the company, both in the Netherlands and in Belgium, regarding cross-border behaviour. When there were rumors in 2016 about the CEO’s cross-border behavior in Belgium, this was immediately investigated. It concerned Smeets’ behavior towards female employees. It resulted in Smeets being reprimanded, there was initially no reason for dismissal. Until a formal complaint was filed against him in the fall of 2016. The director-publisher was immediately fired without the reason being disclosed.
Unlike in Belgium, the dismissal six years ago was not news in the Netherlands. Although the Belgian was involved in the Dutch newspapers of DPG Media, in 2016 no longer played a significant role in the Netherlands.
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