The Managing Directors of Hagar – the Baugur Subsidiary in Iceland – and Árvakur, the publisher of Morgunblaðið, met last week to discuss whether Baugur will continue advertising in Morgunblaðið. According to the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service, the two directors reviewed events leading to the Baugur case and the involvement of Morgunblaðið’s senior editor, Styrmir Gunnarsson.
Last week, Baugur CEO Jón Ásgeir Jóhannesson said that in light of the editor’s involvement in the case, Baugur would review whether they would continue to advertise in Morgunblaðið.
According to reports, Styrmir recommended a lawyer to Jón Gerald Sullenberger, the instigator of the Baugur case. Emails between Styrmir and Jónína Benediktsdóttir, former girlfriend of the father of the Baugur CEO, published in Fréttablaðið, show Styrmir giving Jónína advice on how to proceed with the case as well as involving leaders of the independence party.
As of yet, no decision has been made whether or not Baugur will continue advertising in Morgunblaðið. Finnur Árnason, Managing Director of Hagar, said Baugur was still reviewing and debating the issue. He continued to say that the directors of each subsidiary will have to decide where and how they will advertise.
