Former Post Office finance chief Alisdair Cameron has spoken out about the company’s CEO, Nick Read, alleging a preference for working with “younger, deferential males” and few senior roles held by female colleagues. This revelation was made in response to the ongoing public inquiry into the Horizon IT scandal.
Cameron highlighted a culture at the Post Office that he believes favors male colleagues over female ones, with instances of bullying and dismissals of independent-minded employees. Despite accusations of bullying from former chief people officer Jane Davies, Read was cleared of misconduct by an independent investigation.
In April, the Post Office expressed its full support for Read, who plans to step down next year after temporarily stepping back from his role in July to prepare for the inquiry. Cameron, who left the company in June after a year of sick leave, raised concerns about issues such as pay deductions for postmasters, governance problems, and the lack of a cost-cutting program.
The former CFO shared that he felt his concerns were not being addressed and experienced pushback from senior executives when raising important questions. This ultimately led to him being signed off sick in 2023, with a subsequent financial settlement of £500,000. The postal minister, Gareth Thomas, admitted that not all Post office operators affected by the Horizon scandal would receive payouts by the March 2025 deadline.
This situation raises important questions about workplace culture, gender diversity, and leadership within the Post Office. As the public inquiry continues, more light may be shed on the allegations and concerns raised by former employees like Cameron and Davies.
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