Sadly, as suspected - and in line with his CFO in 2009 - the reported death of Jan Peter Schmittmann was indeed suicide [6]. The ex-CEO of ABN Amro hanged himself, but only after murdering his wife, Nally, and 22 year-ol daughter Babette. As Bloomberg reports [7], a farewell letter was found in the house, but authorities declined further comment on its contents. Schmittmann’s family was cited as saying in the statement that “we knew Jan Peter struggled with severe depression," and added that their "first concern now is supporting the remaining daughter in coping with this indescribable grief." Aweful...
De Telegraaf reported today that Schmittmann hanged himself, citing two people it didn’t identify.
Bloomberg explains [7]Schmittmann's history:
Schmittmann joined ABN Amro Holding NV, once among Europe’s biggest banks, in 1983 as an assistant relationship manager and was named head of the lender’s Dutch unit in 2003. As a member of the bank’s executive board, he was responsible for restructuring it along the lines agreed by Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, Fortis and Banco Santander SA in their three-way takeover of the lender in 2007.
A year after the biggest financial-services takeover in history, the credit crunch drove Fortis to the verge of collapse, forcing the Netherlands to take over its Dutch banking and insurance units, including assets of the former ABN Amro in 2008. The Dutch asked Gerrit Zalm to lead the company now called ABN Amro Group NV.
On the eve of the nationalization, Schmittmann was dismissed by the Dutch Finance Ministry, he told lawmakers in a 2011 hearing. He received an 8 million-euro ($11 million) severance payment, less than what he was entitled to under his contract and more than the Dutch government sought to pay.
Dutch Police Statement (via Google Translate) [8]:
On Saturday April 5 officers found three lifeless bodies in the house. It turned out to be the father, mother and the youngest daughter of family Schmittmann. The entire Saturday performed the Forensic Investigation research in and around the home. The first indications of the police pointed to a possible family drama. The eldest daughter of the family was not at home and is caught by her family.
Further investigation
To exclude other possible scenarios were, in addition to the search for clues in the home, research bodies carried out to establish the cause of death. Information was also gathered from family and friends of the family to get what had happened as possible a clear picture. Dutch Forensic Institute confirmed the suspicions that the police had. The mother and daughter are killed by the father, the father then committed suicide. The house is a suicide note found.
Are related to privacy and respect for the family, no further statements made about the time of death, the manner of death and the contents of the suicide note.
Explanation family Schmittmann
The family has stated: "We are deeply shocked and beaten by this unimaginable news. We knew that Jan Peter struggled with severe depression that would eventually lead to these events is still incomprehensible to us, our first concern... now supporting the other daughter of the family in the processing of this indescribable grief. We hope to be able to do. "in peace and seclusion"
Aweful...