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PKN Orlen, Poland's largest oil refiner, has suspended its president and chief executive Piotr Kownacki for causing "significant worsening" to the company's image.

In a statement released late yesterday, PKN Orlen's board said Mr Kownacki has been suspended for an indefinite period.

"The supervisory board has made the decision due to the fact that the president took actions individually, without agreement with the company's management board, which were leading to significant worsening of the company's image.

"These actions include statements of political character, pulling the company into current political disputes, as well as unjustified discrediting the supervisory board."

Mr Kownacki told a press conference last week that the government was trying to exert pressure on him.

The state holds a 27.5 per cent stake in PKN Orlen and at a shareholder meeting three weeks ago replaced seven out of eight members of the supervisory board.

Mr Kownacki was appointed by the last government, which lost the October elections.

The board added it "hopes that the period of the president suspension will favour the hushing up emotions and rebuilding the atmosphere of the common, non-political operation for the company's good".

At the same meeting, the board appointed its vice president Wojciech Heydel as interim president.