Sensyne Health has settled an听employment tribunal claim with its former CFO.听
Lorimer Headley left the listed HealthTech on March 2nd听2020听and subsequently brought a claim of听unfair dismissal听against the firm.听
He alleged that听his contract was听terminated after whistleblowing against听CEO Lord Drayson听for lying amid an alleged听鈥�culture of fear鈥�听reported in the press.听
The company鈥檚 board has decided, 鈥渢o avoid further legal costs and distraction for the business and in recognition of Mr Headley’s contribution to Sensyne Health鈥�, to pay Headley 拢150,000听as compensation for loss of office as well as听a contribution of 拢200,000 towards his legal fees.听听
It has also agreed to听鈥�provide outplacement assistance up to a value of 拢30,000鈥� alongside payments for a notice period and untaken holiday.听
A Watford Employment Tribunal heard that听Lord Drayson had blamed听the earlier听resignation of CTO Steven Hamblin听on听“issues with finance”.听
A representative of Headley claimed that the real reason for Hamblin鈥檚 exit was the听reported听鈥榗ulture of fear鈥�,听with allegations of bullying against former government minister Drayson.听
Headley听verbally accused Drayson of being in “the territory of lies” then later sent听a second written whistleblowing claim听alleging听that Drayson鈥檚听comments to the board听were misleading and听in breach of his legal obligations.听听
Oxford-based Sensyne Health commissioned an independent law firm to investigate the claims against Drayson. Despite the settlement, it stated today: “They found that the allegations were not supported by the evidence.鈥�听
Shareholders听in Sensyne, which employs around 100 people,听include three NHS foundation trusts.听