SPORTT’S Errol Ashby Fired.
By Anika Gumbs-Sandiford (Guardian).
Although board members objected to the recruitment of Shoma Persad at the executive level.
Anil Roberts Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts’ preferred choice for the position of executive manager of business development at the Sport Company of T&T (Sportt) has allegedly led to the dismissal of the company’s chief executive officer (CEO).
Errol Ashby was axed on August 19, after he allegedly fell out of favour with the minister for failing to carry out a directive—a directive which board members also expressed concern over. In fact, despite objections from the board that there were no grounds to dismiss Ashby, Roberts, in an interview with Sunday Guardian yesterday insisted the former CEO did not perform as expected and was in breach of his contract for use of a million dollar luxury BMW X3.
The fallout reportedly stemmed from Ashby’s unwillingness to comply with instructions to appoint new recruit Shoma Persad to the lucrative $30,000 monthly executive position.
The position is at present held by Steven Joseph. Promotion to the executive position would have seen Persad, who was hired in mid June as a manager, receiving a $12,500 pay hike on her $17,500 monthly salary and an increase in travelling, housing and telephone perks she now enjoys. Confidential board minutes obtained by Sunday Guardian from the extraordinary board meeting held on August 18, revealed that members objected to the recruitment of Persad at the executive level and unanimously voted against the decision to axe CEO Ashby.
Board director Nisa Dass at the said meeting stated: “The instructions are to terminate the employment of Joseph and put Persad to act in his place.” Dass stressed that the dismissal was geared at “looking for a reason to please the Minister,” the minutes revealed. The directive was further supported by statements made by another board director Matthew Quamina.
Quamina stated: “The reason why this board meeting was being held was because the minister asked the board to terminate the CEO’s contract.” Director Cheemattee Martin objected to the directive stating: “The board was told to install Ashby as CEO and as such, I disagree with what is taking place.”
Also expressing concern was board director Kent Samlal who stated: “I have difficulty with the minister saying that he will find a person for the position of CEO.” Board clears Ashby, but… It was on this basis, according to the board minutes, that vice chairman Dr Chela Lamsee-Ebanks noted there were no grounds to dismiss Ashby given that no prior complaints were ever lodged against him. However, the mounting pressure to dismiss Ashby led to the board exploring whether the CEO was in breach of his contract for use of a luxury BMW.
The board, however, rejected the issue after chairman Rhett Chee Ping, who was on vacation at the time of the specially convened board meeting, communicated via a Skype conference call that he ratified the leasing of the vehicle to Ashby. Chee Ping informed the board that he did not examine the contract in minute detail and was willing to resign over the issue.
The board later agreed that the leasing of the vehicle was not a valid reason to terminate Ashby given that the type of car was not specified in his contract. It was at this point the board first agreed that the termination of the CEO would not be supported. Board members, the minutes revealed, also felt they should not resign because of the decision, but if the minister so desired, he could dismiss them.
Minister attends board meeting, Chee Ping resigns
In an unprecedented move on that said day, Lamsee-Ebanks then informed board members that the minister was on his way to the meeting. Informed of this, Chee Ping openly vented his disapproval over the minister’s attendance at the meeting stating that a “bad precedent” was being set. However, according to the minutes, the minister arrived at the meeting at around 2 pm. Lamsee-Ebanks, the minutes stated, informed Roberts that the board was unable to find any issue with the CEO and they have no reason to terminate his employment.
The minister, however, then raised discussion regarding the luxury BMW X3 and Ashby’s contract; why some board members were absent and the performances of the CEO and the executive manager. Chee Ping informed the minister and the board of his willingness to resign over the issue of the type of vehicle that was leased to the CEO. However, Samlal suggested that the firm should be contacted to see whether the contract could be terminated. Chee Ping then ended the conference call minutes before the minister left the meeting at 3.12 pm. Within days of the saga unfolding, Chee Ping tendered his resignation.
Ashby axed by second vote… Joseph in limbo
Further perusal of the minutes revealed that on arrival of directors Sebastien Paddington and Anyl Gopeesingh both members were brought up to date on the proceedings. Gopeesingh, however, the minutes indicated, asked for the “real reason” for the CEO to be terminated. Lamsee-Ebanks explained: “The chairman feels that the CEO is performing his duties.”
Quamina said: “The Honourable Minister says the CEO has not been performing.” This then prompted Gopeesingh to ask: “How someone who has just started could be terminated?” Paddington replied: “Persad sent an e-mail indicating her displeasure that the business development executive manager had transferred someone to the department.” Dass, however, pointed out that the executive manager’s position allowed him to make such decisions.
Terminate CEO, or else...
It was at this juncture Lamsee-Ebanks indicted to the board that if Ashby was not terminated then members should be prepared to end their tenure as directors. Paddington also reminded members that they were “political appointees.” The board then took another vote changing their tune and agreed that Ashby would be terminated based on “lack of performance or dishonesty concerning the contents of the contract, as some of the items discussed did not ultimately form part of the contract as agreed.” Directors, however, agreed that there was no evidence of non-performance against Joseph.
Ashby gets the axe
In an interview with Sunday Guardian last week, Ashby said following two job vacancy advertisements in June (executive manager and senior manager) he was informed by board members that Persad was recommended to fill the executive manager post. However, Ashby said based on the particular job specification and work experience, Persad did not meet the requirements. “I was told by board members that Persad was the minister’s pick for executive manger of business development. Subsequently, I had a telephone conversation with the minister informing him that Persad did not meet the criteria based on the requirements listed in the advertisement.
In fact, Persad did not meet the criteria for either of the positions but a decision was taken to hire her as administrative assistant but that position was rejected by the minister. Ashby continued: “The minister outright rejected Persad coming on as an administrative assistant. I accepted his position but insisted that the post required a certain level of experience. The decision was then made to bring Persad on board as manager of business development. Her job title also posed an issue and on request from the minister I changed her title from manager to senior manager. There was no change in salary.”
Ashby said he was uncertain as to what led to his dismissal. He recalled: “I was called in to see the minister on August 17. It was during that meeting the minister raised issue with the type of car I was driving. I referred him to the chairman because he authorised the leasing of the car for me.” Two days later, Ashby said, he was informed by board members that his services were no longer required at Sportt. “I asked for my dismissal letter and was informed that they were giving me the option to resign with two months’ salary as it was in my best interest. I directed the board to a clause in my contract that sets out if we want to divorce, how it should be handled. I subsequently received my dismissal letter on Sunday (August 21). Only the minister can say why I was dismissed.”
Roberts: It’s mischief
Told that the board minutes stated that he gave directives to dismiss Ashby, Roberts said: “I do not attend board meetings. I have meetings with the board like all other ministers to tell them what is the general policy and the direction the company wants to go. The CEO who was the former corporate secretary should have been on probation like all persons who are hired but he failed to include this in his contract that was drafted by himself. “I was not pleased with CEOs performance during his tenure.” Roberts said Ashby’s underperformance and breach of his contract led to his dismissal. “The CEO’s contract states that he is entitled to a vehicle but what appears to have happened is that Ashby and the former chairman, without consultation with the board, decided to purchase a million-dollar vehicle without informing me.
I informed the board that I was not pleased that such a purchase was made without any board oversight and ministerial approval. The BMW X3 is now being traded-in for pick-up vans that will be used to transport employees to the various recreation grounds for maintenance purposes.” Denying that Persad was his pick for executive chairman, Roberts stated: “The minister does not recommend, hire or interview. There is a process at the Sportt company. Vacancies are advertised in the newspaper and people apply. If there is a recommendation that someone is on probation and not performing a gap will exist. Someone below them has to act until an advertisement goes out and the panel goes through the process of vetting resumes and so on.
“Joseph is on probation; his performance is under question and if the board deems that he is to be removed the person immediately below is the senior manager of business development...that person is Ms Persad. Ms Persad would act in that position until advertisements go out to fill that post. This is an absolutely normal situation; I do not know what is the problem.” Persad: I applied for my job
When contacted, Persad confirmed to Sunday Guardian that she was recently employed at Sportt. Not divulging the date she was hired, Persad said: “I am employed as a senior manager at Sportt. I was employed three months ago.”
Asked if she applied to fill the post of executive manager of the business development unit, Persad said: “I applied for (one of) two positions—executive manager and senior manager; I was successful in getting the job as senior manager.” Persad’s resume showed her job experience as working at Kall Co Ltd, T&T from October 2008 to November 2010 as an administrative operations manager, at Herbal Magic Nutrition and Weight Loss Centre, Toronto from September 2007 to August 2008 as an assistant manager and health counsellor, and at Sanofi Pasteur Ltd, Toronto from May 2007 to August 2007 under a student internship.
Chee Ping: I have other commitments
Briefly commenting on the issue, Chee Ping insisted that he resigned to dedicate himself to other work commitments. He said: I was on vacation at the time of the meeting. I spoke to my board members and the issue surrounding Ashby was raised. With regard to Joseph, he is still employed at Sportt.”
