Kath Harmeston employment tribunal

An employment tribunal between the Co-operative Group and its former chief procurement officer Kath Harmeston has seen Ms Harmeston claiming more than £5m in damages for unfair dismissal. Ms...

An employment tribunal between the Co-operative Group and its former chief procurement officer Kath Harmeston has seen Ms Harmeston claiming more than £5m in damages for unfair dismissal.

Ms Harmeston claims she was sacked after she blew the whistle on alleged procurement non-compliance at the Group.

The Group deny this and say she was dismissed because her procurement activity was non-compliant with Group policy and her claims are “an attempt to mask her own serious misconduct”.

  • Kath Harmeston gains whistleblower status, but only just

    The Co-op Group has won its legal battle against a former director who claimed she was sacked because she exposed malpractice among its executive. Procurement chief Kath Harmeston was not unfairly dismissed, ruled Manchester Employment Tribunal. But the Group did fail to pay her expenses within a reasonable period due to the information she disclosed, the court ruled. Thus she achieves ...

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  • Kath Harmeston: Employment tribunal decides in favour of Co-operative Group

    A Manchester employment tribunal has found that former Co-operative Group procurement director, Kath Harmeston was not unfairly dismissed. Ms Harmeston, who was claiming whistle-blower status, was suing the Group for more than £5m. She argued she had been unfairly dismissed after having exposed alleged procurement non-compliance throughout the organisation. But the judgment of the ...

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  • The full case: Kath Harmeston accuses Co-op Group of cover-up

    The Co-operative Group stands accused of a cover-up as its former purchasing director attempts to sue it for £5m. Kath Harmeston, who was headhunted from the Royal Mail to cut costs on the Group’s £1bn 'goods not for resale' budget, claims she was unfairly dismissed because she blew the whistle on procurement non-compliance, including among the Group’s executive. The Group says she is not a ...

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  • Crisis justified policy non-compliance, Pennycook tells tribunal

    The Co-operative Group’s chief executive has admitted not following procurement policy during restructuring of the Co-operative Bank. But Richard Pennycook told the employment tribunal he had done so in urgent circumstances, with authority from the board and in the interests of the Group. The tribunal will decide whether former Group procurement director Kath Harmeston was unfairly ...

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  • There's no conflict of interest, Pippa Wicks tells tribunal

    The Co-operative Group’s interim chief operating officer (COO) denied conflict of interest at an employment tribunal, but acknowledged there was potential for it. Pippa Wicks has been accused of operating a “land and expand” strategy on behalf of consultancy firm AlixPartners, of which she is managing director, by former Group procurement director Kath Harmeston. Ms Harmeston claims she was ...

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  • 'I have never seen as many issues with a new recruit,' HR chief tells Harmeston tribunal

    A tribunal has heard how Kath Harmeston's employment at the Co-operative Group was beset by "issues" from the start, according to the organisation's human resources chief, Sam Walker. Ms Harmeston, the Group's former procurement director, claims the executive officers turned against her after she blew the whistle on alleged procurement malpractice. She claims unfair dismissal. Mrs Walker ...

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  • Kath Harmeston found guilty of misconduct in Group disciplinary, tribunal hears

    Former Co-operative Group procurement director Kath Harmeston was found guilty of misconduct, but not gross misconduct, in a disciplinary hearing, an employment tribunal has heard. Ms Harmeston claims she was unfairly dismissed from the Group because she exposed alleged procurement non-compliance throughout the organisation. The Group says she breached policy and it lost trust in her. Former ...

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  • Kath Harmeston accused of distraction tactics to gain pay off

    The officer who investigated Kath Harmeston’s attempts to blow the whistle at the Co-operative Group has dismissed her claims as “distraction and delay” in an employment tribunal. Simon Mills, HR partner at the Group, said former procurement director Ms Harmeston, who wants £5m damages for unfair dismissal, was attempting to position herself for a large pay off. Ms Harmeston says she ...

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  • Former director misled Co-op Group over contractors, tribunal hears

    The Co-operative Group’s former procurement director misled its managers and executives when hiring a contractor she already knew, it has been claimed by the Co-operative Group at an employment tribunal. The Group says Kath Harmeston had SilverLining Partners (SLP) in mind from the start, hiring them outside proper processes and failing to disclose they had been investigated for malpractice ...

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  • Kath Harmeston: Group could have been 'world-class' within a year

    At an employment tribunal in Manchester, Kath Harmeston claimed the Co-operative Group could have become a world-class organisation in just 12 months. Under cross-examination Ms Harmeston, who is attempting to sue the Group for more than £5m in damages for unfair dismissal, described doing business with suppliers as a commercial opportunity. She aimed to make saving costs of £161m. “Was ...

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  • Consultancy spend at Co-operative Group 'feral', tribunal hears

    Co-operative Group spend on consultancy was “feral” and allegedly worsening during its financial crisis, an employment tribunal has heard. The Group’s former chief purchasing officer, Kath Harmeston, claims she was unfairly dismissed because she exposed “endemic" and costly procurement non-compliance at the Group. She is suing it for £5 million. The Group says it had lost trust and ...

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  • The tribunal case is taking place at Alexandra House in central Manchester

    Tribunal case hears accusations of Co-operative Group cover-up

    The Co-operative Group stands accused of a cover-up at the highest level as its former chief purchasing officer attempts to sue the organisation for £5m. Kath Harmeston claims she was unfairly dismissed because she exposed an alleged procurement non-compliance among the Group’s executive, including chief executive Richard Pennycook and chief operating officer (COO) Pippa Wicks. The Group ...

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  • Kath Harmeston is taking the Co-operative Group to tribunal near its Manchester headquarters

    Former procurement chief takes Co-op Group to tribunal for £5m damages

    The Co-operative Group is entering a court battle with its former chief procurement officer. Kath Harmeston is claiming whistleblower status and is asking for more than £5m in damages for unfair dismissal. The employment tribunal opens in Manchester on 7 January and is expected to continue until 22 January. According to press reports, Ms Harmeston claims she was fired after ...

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