SEVERAL sources have independently taught or informed us that the EPO suffers brain drain not only at the examination tier but also the managerial/secretarial tier. The crisis is ascending higher up to the top-level management and some rumours falsely suggest that Elodie Bergot is out after her highly suspicious -- if not incredible -- promotion. She's not out. "The woman who resigned is Edda Feisel," we learned, "head of "Recruitment and Talent Management". Elodie was her line manager." Nevertheless, the rumours around Bergot continue to swirl and sometimes get distorted in transmission (broken telephone). As one person put it: "Lots of other rumours flying around (i.e. Board 28 demanded that Elodie goes), but the Director resignation seems to be the only fact."

"The crisis is ascending higher up to the top-level management...""Upon reflection," told us another person "it would be surprising that this kind of information should circulate so quickly over a weekend.

"Concerning Elodie, the word I got back is that the news are false, or more likely that someone confused somebody else for her. A woman has indeed just left the HR department, but it wasn't Elodie but a person lower down the ladder who wad been recently hired and was still in her probation period. Reasons for the sudden departure [are] unknown."

Having inquired further about the Elodie Bergot rumours, one person said: "If it is true, then Battistelli might be cutting ballast loose in order to survive himself."

We shall reserve further commentary about the situation until we have something concrete and confirmed, whereupon we'll give updates and disseminate other rumours that came our way (some go as far as suggesting that even Željko Topić may be on his way out, perhaps to be replaced by Elodie Bergot). Wouldn't that be an incredible career leap? Either way, it's a rumour which is hard to believe, so please send further information to help us separate facts from rumours. ⬆