Cristiana Barsony-Arcidiacono, the 49-year-old CEO of BAC Consulting based in Hungary, is facing scrutiny after the recent tragedy involving exploding pagers in Lebanon that resulted in 12 fatalities and over 2,000 injuries.
Barsony-Arcidiacono has denied any direct involvement in the incident. Reports indicate that the pagers were licensed from a Taiwanese manufacturer, Gold Apollo, raising questions about her firm's role in the disaster.
In an interview, Barsony-Arcidiacono distanced herself from the tragedy, saying, "I am just the intermediate. I think you got it wrong." Since the incident, she has kept a low profile, closing her home in Budapest, which is adorned with pastel drawings.
Fluent in seven languages and holding a PhD in particle physics, Barsony-Arcidiacono has a varied career that includes humanitarian work across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. However, her past has been marred by controversy. Kilian Kleinschmidt, a former UN administrator, described her management style as "bullying" and stated that hiring her for a project in Tunisia was "one of the biggest mistakes of my life."
While her neighbors in Budapest have described her as kind yet elusive, her resume reveals inconsistencies. Claims of high-ranking positions at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and New York’s Earth Child Institute have been debunked. The IAEA confirmed her role was limited to an internship, and the Earth Child Institute clarified that she had no formal association with them.
Despite her impressive academic credentials, Barsony-Arcidiacono has not pursued a career in science. The now-removed website for BAC Consulting showcased her interdisciplinary work, but the company's actual business operations in Hungary remain unclear.
As authorities continue to investigate the explosion, Barsony-Arcidiacono's future hangs in the balance, casting doubt on her professional credentials.
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