Wendelin Wiedeking is the Sir Fred Goodwin of Germany. Like Sir Fred, the unassuming-looking Mr Wiedeking once did great things, turning near-bankrupt Porsche into a hugely profitable company. Then his audacious takeover attempt of Volkswagen collapsed under the weight of its debts. Mr Wiedeking is now driving off with a €50m bonus, although schadenfreude may soon replace outrage: he could be dragged before the courts. Other German executives, such as Klaus Esser of Mannesmann, have faced judges over far smaller sums.
文德林?魏德金(Wendelin Wiedeking)就是德國的弗雷德?古德溫爵士(Sir Fred Goodwin)。和弗雷德爵士一樣，外表謙和的魏德金也曾有過豐功偉績，將幾近破產的保時捷(Porsche)轉變為一家極具盈利能力的公司。之后，他大膽收購大眾(Volkswagen)的嘗試在債務重壓下宣告失敗。如今魏德金帶著5000萬歐元的豐厚獎金離去。不過，幸災樂禍可能很快就會取代憤怒：魏德金有可能被告上法庭。其他幾位德國高管，例如曼內斯曼(Mannesmann)的克勞斯?埃塞爾(Klaus Esser)，就曾因為小得多的獎金數額被訴諸法庭。