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Horse charity boss to step down after Telegraph investigation revealed "toxic culture" allegations
The chief executive of the UK’s largest horse charity will step down following allegations from former staff of a “toxic culture” in the organisation.
More than 20 former staff members and volunteers told The Daily Telegraph they had raised concerns about the working environment at the British Horse Society, with some claiming they had witnessed staff reduced to tears and forced to take time off work for stress.
Lynn Petersen, who has headed up the charity for the last six years, announced her departure yesterday in an email to staff.
She said: “The time has come for me to move on and forge a new path by retiring from the post of Chief Executive.
“I have loved being your CEO. Together we have moved forward in so many ways - membership, education, welfare, safety, access. Today we are a great organisation…stronger in every way.
She added: “We have learned that change is a fundamental part of life…and so it is with the role of CEO. It is time for an exciting change for the Society.”
An investigation by the Telegraph found the charity had “overspent” hundreds of thousands of pounds on an IT project and made payments to staff who signed controversial non-disclosure agreements when they left the organisation.
A spokesperson for the Charity Commission said it is “continuing to assess information” to establish whether any regulatory action is required.
Natasha Eastwood, who was marketing and communications director at the charity until she left last April, claimed there was a “toxic culture” at the charity.
A number of former employees said that no action was taken by the board of trustees when they tried to raise their concerns.
The Telegraph asked the charity why Ms Petersen was stepping down and if her departure was connected to the allegations previously reported.
In response, a spokesperson said: “Lynn Petersen, Chief Executive of The British Horse Society (BHS) has announced her retirement, following a long and successful career of more than 40 years in both commerce and charity, six of which have been with the BHS."
Last year the charity commissioned an independent lawyer to investigate an allegation of bullying by Ms Petersen and chairman David Sheerin said that while “certain issues” were identified the allegations of bullying “were not warranted”.
Ms Petersen had been criticised by former staff for receiving a driving allowance from the charity in 2016 while she was banned from driving for speeding.
She also faced criticism for using the organisation’s funds to fly business class to China in 2017.
When the Telegraph put the allegations to the charity Mr Sheerin said there was “no significance” in the number of non-disclosure agreements agreed with former staff and that both sides had received legal advice.
He added that it had “never been the case that the BHS has paid an individual a sum of money in order to ‘buy their silence’” and that these agreements are “often in the interests of both parties”.
Mr Sheerin said the charity did receive complaints about treatment of staff and misuse of funds, including a whistleblowing letter from a manager which was investigated by PWC who concluded the concerns were “unfounded”.
Mr Sheerin, who also travelled business class with Ms Petersen on the same trip to China, said the tickets had been bought at a discounted rate and they were “well under half the usual price”. He said the trip had been funded through an arm of the charity - BHS International - which is “self-financing”.
He said Ms Petersen reported her driving ban to the HR director at the time and repaid the money she had received for her driving allowance.