Barrister to investigate Stobart bullying claims
Stobart Group has appointed barrister Alice Mayhew to investigate allegations of bullying.
The allegations came to light in the course of the dispute between chairman Iain Ferguson and founder Andrew Tinkler.
In a statement on 28th June, former director William Stobart highlighted the issue saying: “To me the worst thing about this whole affair is the bullying and intimidation of employees by the Board in an attempt to win this battle. Senior directors have been off work with stress because of the demands being made by the Chairman and CEO. Staff are being asked to go through e-mails and breach company protocols. Whilst all this is going on the most important part of the business – the customers, are asking what the hell is going on?”
Mayhew, a senior employment barrister at Devereux Chambers, has been asked to carry out an independent investigation into the concerns raised in recent weeks by certain employees regarding alleged bullying and whistleblowing. A statement from the board said: “Ms Mayhew will be seeking to interview all members of the Executive Leadership Team, among others, as part of her investigation.”
Ferguson decided to step down following the group’s annual general meeting, and Russell Reynolds Associates has been appointed to identify a suitable replacement as non-executive chairman.
