Experts say state company hiring rules narrow leadership pool

People often rotate between management and supervisory roles at state-owned companies, with the same names appearing across sectors, LSM reported. Its analysis found that selection criteria for these positions allow only a narrow pool of candidates.

The review covered 301 companies, including those wholly owned by the state or municipalities and those with other owners. Their management and supervisory boards had 525 current positions, held by 492 people. Twenty-nine people worked for more than one company at the same time.

Nearly four in five of those holding multiple jobs worked simultaneously in different sectors. Thirteen people served on one company’s management board and another company’s supervisory board, overseeing its management.

LSM examined the work histories of 90 people who had served in at least two companies and two sectors. Most had experience at two companies, while more than a third had worked at three or more. The report highlighted six people with the most extensive rotations.

Raitis Nešpors has held positions at four companies: Riga Airport, Latvian Road Maintenance, State Real Estate and Passenger Train. He currently works at State Real Estate and Passenger Train, combining transport and real estate management roles.

Agnis Driksna has also worked at four companies. His career moved from European Railway Lines and RB Rail into healthcare, including a position on the Children’s Hospital supervisory board.