Posted: 07th Mar, 2007 By: MarkJ
The recent exit of PlusNet's former CEO, Lee Strafford, appeared to be a reasonably cordial affair. However
The Independent newspaper has information suggesting that Strafford's exit may have been somewhat more controversial:
Mr Strafford, alongside finance director Neil Comer, was unexpectedly dismissed with immediate effect on Monday for misconduct. Neither executive received a pay-off from BT, which acquired the company in January. Mr Strafford declined to comment.
A source said that Mr Strafford and Mr Comer were dismissed after being accused of plotting to establish a new business that would have been to the detriment of
Plusnet. The source said that Mr Strafford was "
flabbergasted" at BT's behaviour after he had been called to the meeting to discuss
Plusnet workers' remuneration, not "
ludicrous accusations".
The source said the plan in question involved rolling out
Plusnet's software platform internationally with the help of BT. The plan had been under discussion since last summer and the source said BT was aware of the expansion plan during its acquisition of the company.
The report claims that Strafford has threatened BT with legal action over his surprise dismissal. BT itself had originally stated that it had no intentions of making any changes to the ISP's management team. Officially neither party will comment on the matter.