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BrewDog appoints chairperson Blythe Jack amid ‘toxic culture’ backlash
Craft beer giant BrewDog has appointed its first ever chairperson, managing director of TSG Consumer Partners Blythe Jack, amid claims of a “toxic culture” at the brewer, it is reported.
According to a report in This is Money, BrewDog has appointed its “first ever chairperson to lead [its] board”.
The move comes amid a slurry of damaging allegations made against the beer firm by former staff members, who last week accused the brewer of cultivating a “culture of fear” and a “toxic attitude” towards junior employees.
“You spent years claiming you wanted to be the best employer in the world, presumably to help you to recruit top talent, but ask former staff what they think of those claims, and you’ll most likely be laughed at.” Part of the open letter, initially signed by 60 former employees, read.
Co-founder and CEO James Watt responded to the backlash in an interview with the BBC, stating:
“It’s very clear, looking at the feedback, we haven’t always got things right here.
“We have to see this feedback as an opportunity to get better. We have to learn, we have to act. We have to take it on the chin.”
Meanwhile, in an internal email to staff advising them of Blythe Jack’s appointment to the board, Watt wrote, per This is Money:
“We have appointed our first ever chairperson to lead our board. That will be Blythe Jack and we are delighted she will be leading our business at board level. This is effective immediately.”
When asked about specific claims made in the open letter, Watt told the BBC:
“For me, it’s not about disputing individual claims. But 60 people were unhappy and we have to get better. That’s the only way we can get something good out of this situation.”
You can read our story on his response to the BrewDog backlash here.