Ivana Tendean, product and marketing manager at luggage company Samsonite, made derogatory comments about Chinese people in leaked texts in 2018.
EXCLUSIVE
A marketing executive at a global luggage company called a Chinese candidate “crazy” and “that annoying Chinese girl,” according to leaked WhatsApp messages.
Ivana Tendean, the current head of product and marketing for the Australian arm of luggage giant Samsonite, also tweeted about “holding my nose” in the presence of Indians, according to leaked Whatsapp messages and online posts .
Ms Tendean was due to take maternity leave at the end of 2018.
Maternity leave cover for her position at the company’s Australian branch – headquartered in Mulgrave, Victoria – was opened in December 2018.
A Chinese woman applied and got an interview with Ms Tendean – who was then a marketing and graphics coordinator as well as a recruitment manager – and another human resources colleague.
The applicant had requested that her interview with Samsonite be brought forward as she had another job prospect lined up, which frustrated Ms Tendean who did not want to meet her.
She then sent angry text messages about the situation to another person, in which she repeatedly criticized the applicant using racist terms.
“Vulnerabilities are dangerous to hire,” Ms. Tendean said in a leaked message from December 2018.
“They are very “aggressive”. In any case, the females.
In one text, she said “loopholes are dangerous to hire” when discussing a Chinese job candidate (a digital mock-up of the messages, seen by Daily Mail Australia, is above)
Ms Tendean also said the job seeker was “FOB” – a derogatory expression meaning fresh off the boat.
Ms Tendean complained about the candidate before and after the job interview, messages and tweets show
Ms. Tendean is herself of Chinese origin.
The messages continued back and forth, with the other person in the conversation assuming that Ms. Tendean was unlikely to hire them.
‘No. She is so demanding. I don’t like it,” she replied.
In another text, she sent a note about the candidate’s interest in the role that had been written by another colleague with the caption “look at (colleague)’s note about that annoying Chinese girl.”
“I’m so annoyed that I have to meet this Chinese girl,” she said.
“She’s so FOB (fresh off the boat). She reminds me of myself but in a fobby version. Worried about his English. She definitely has the skills but her English FML. Hit and miss my questions a bit.
In another post, Ms Tendean said she thought the candidate was a good candidate, but was “very intelligent and manipulative”.
The conversation took place in December 2018 after Ms Tendean interviewed the prospective job seeker.
Ms Tendean said she was “obviously hired” by another company because she was Chinese.
“She seems so determined, like any Chinese person,” she continued.
“I’m a little tired (sic) of his manipulation.”
In another text, Ms Tendean said the applicant was a “very smart girl” but the company should be wary of her.
“But you have to be careful with Chinese girls like that,” she said.
“Just like that slut from Beijing who lives with daddy.”
In now-deleted tweets from 2012, Ms Tendean also made offensive comments about people of Indian origin.
“When I see a group of Indians approaching me, I go on autopilot to hold my breath and touch my nose,” she said in a May 2012 tweet.
In another tweet, she made more comments about people of Chinese descent.
“Here’s to all the FOB Chinese ladies; You are crude people looking for gold with skin made of concrete! #china #notshame’.
In other texts, Ms Tendean says the applicant was “manipulative” and “demanding”.
Daily Mail Australia contacted Ms Tendean for comment but did not receive a response by deadline. His LinkedIn page was later deleted.
Samsonite is currently investigating the matter.
“Samsonite is committed to fostering a positive, respectful and inclusive work environment and does not tolerate racism or hatred,” a company spokesperson said.
“The Company takes all allegations regarding potential violations of its policies very seriously and is investigating this matter.”
Samsonite is one of the largest travel companies in the world and was founded in 1910 in the American city of Denver, offering luggage and travel accessories for hundreds of dollars, with some even costing more than $1,000.
Samsonite products are manufactured in Europe, India, Vietnam and China.
In now-deleted tweets from 2012, Ms Tendean also made offensive comments about those of Indian origin.
In another tweet, she made more comments about people of Chinese descent.