Mr C Rajgopaul KC and Mr Tom Lowenthal For the v Respondent — 2024

The Tribunal found that the Claimant, Dr Ron Black, the former CEO of Imagination Technologies Group Limited, was automatically unfairly dismissed under section 103A of the Employment Rights Act 1996. The Tribunal concluded that the principal reason for his dismissal on 10 April 2020 was the protected disclosures he had made on 6 April 2020, which the Respondents characterised as allegations of impropriety against Imagination, Canyon Bridge and its investors. While the Tribunal accepted that the dismissal was not solely due to the protected disclosures and that the Claimant's conduct on 6 April also played a part, the disclosures were held to be the principal reason.

The Tribunal further found that the Claimant suffered detriments on the ground of his protected disclosures, specifically the dismissal of himself on 10 April 2020 and the dismissal of his wife, Mrs Black, on 30 April 2020. All other alleged detriments were dismissed. Claims against the Sixth Respondent, Canyon Bridge International Holding Investment Limited, were dismissed upon withdrawal at the outset of the hearing by agreement of the parties.

On remedy, the Tribunal considered that, on the balance of probabilities, the Claimant would not have remained in his role indefinitely; it found that further conflict between the Claimant and the directors would likely have arisen within six months of dismissal, probably leading to his exit on bad-leaver terms. The Tribunal directed that further evidence on remedy would be heard at a separate hearing.