Gloria Prince Hotel chairman Chen Tien-kuei (陳天貴) became the acting chairman of the Grand Hotel yesterday, replacing former chairman Chang Shuo-lao (張學勞), who resigned earlier this month amid allegations that he embezzled operational funds while serving as the chairman of the Taiwan Visitor Association.
A former Tourism Bureau director-general, Chang took the reins of the debt-ridden hotel in July 2008 and accepted the appointment as an unpaid chairmanship.
Last year, the hotel became profitable after 20 years of financial losses.
The Grand Hotel board members held a meeting yesterday morning and agreed that Chen would serve as acting chairman before the Ministry of Transportation and Communications finds a permanent replacement. Chang and Chen exchanged seals in a ceremony yesterday morning.
During the ceremony, several Grand Hotel employees submitted a petition asking Chang to stay. Chang said that he had completed his work and described himself as an ox that could finally get rid of his nose ring after 60 years of work.
“The employees in the Grand Hotel have begun to identify more with the company and are working harder than ever,” he said. “The hotel needs a new leader to help it regenerate and transform.”
He said that his resignation had nothing to do with allegations leveled against him.
“They [the accusers] never have the nerve to come out and confront me in person,” Chang said. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”
Chen, however, urged the government to find his replacement as soon as possible and said that he hoped to be acting chairman for only a month.
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