Skipton Building Society, which owns Connells Group, has categorically denied any wrongdoing after former Connells Group chief executive David Livesey launched a £7m legal claim against Skipton, alleging he was forced out of the business following a campaign of bullying by senior management.
Livesey, who stepped down in 2023 after more than 35 years with Connells, claims that his position was systematically undermined after Stuart Haire became chief executive of Skipton Building Society, which owns the estate agency group.
According to court filings, Livesey alleges Haire sought to diminish his authority and influence within Connells in an effort to force his resignation and pave the way for a new leadership team. He is pursuing claims including unfair dismissal and discrimination.
The allegations stand in contrast to the public statements issued at the time of his departure, when Connells announced Livesey’s retirement and thanked him for his contribution to building one of the UK’s largest estate agency businesses, with more than 1,200 branches and 14,000 staff.
At the time in 2023 he announced his intention to retire, Sarah Whitney, non-executive chair of Connells Group, said: “I’d like to thank David Livesey for the central role he’s played in the success of Connells Group. He leaves with all our best wishes for retirement, said Sarah Whitney, non-executive chair of Connells Group.”
The case is expected to shine a spotlight on the circumstances surrounding the departure of one of the property industry’s longest-serving chief executives and the relationship between Connells and its parent company.
A spokesperson for Skipton told EYE: “We are defending this claim and are limited in what we can say while it is before the Employment Tribunal. We are disappointed that the matter has progressed to this stage, however we firmly deny the allegations raised in this claim.”
The tribunal is continuing to hear evidence.
