Drago Podobnik was sacked as chief executive over "severe violation of obligations" and incompetence due to a bigger-than-expected loss in the first two months of 2013.

January-February results were 20% below plans, which comes on top of a "truly huge loss" in 2012, said supervisory board member Boris Tomašič, who proposed the dismissal of the board.

Podobnik, on the other hand, described the results in 2011 and 2012 as "good" and indicative of the successful implementation of the restructuring programme.

Official figures are not available, but business daily Finance reports that the core company Hit posted a loss of EUR 20m for 2012 (EUR 15m had been planned), with the group loss widening to EUR 30m.

Piciga, an executive at travel agency Kompas who used to head the Slovenian Tourism Board, said he was appointed for a six-month term during which he has to pave the way for the appointment of a new board.

He did not deny being interested in staying on.

The management overhaul also highlights power struggles in the once formidable company, which is in majority ownership of the state and local communities.

The dismissal was proposed by a supervisor who was appointed by the state just last week, with the vote carried out after supervisors representing local communities walked out.

The vote was thus taken by the government-appointed supervisor and two supervisory board members representing Hit workers.