Former Channel Islands Co-op chief wins multimillion-pound court award

The former chief executive of the Channel Islands Co-op has been awarded more than £3m in compensation after the Royal Court ruled his employer breached its duty of care towards him.

Colin MacLeod, who led the society for around a decade before being dismissed in 2020, brought a personal injury claim alleging he was subjected to bullying and a smear campaign by senior figures within the organisation.

In its judgment, the Royal Court found that three Co-op directors had “acted in bad faith” towards Mr MacLeod and concluded that the company had failed to protect his wellbeing.

 “Loss of congeniality of employment”

The court awarded £40,000 in general damages for psychological injury. This included £10,000 for what was described as a “loss of congeniality of employment”, reflecting the pride and sense of purpose Mr MacLeod had derived from his role.

Mr MacLeod also sought £1,478,031 in lost earnings up to the end of 2024. The court ruled that past losses should instead be calculated through to the end of 2025.

In addition, it determined that he is entitled to future loss of earnings, calculated on the same basis, until he reaches the age of 60 in January 2030. Together, the awards take the total compensation to more than £3m.

Following publication of the ruling, the Channel Islands Co-op wrote to its members acknowledging the decision but signalling its intention to appeal.

In an email signed by chief executive Mark Cox, the society said it did not agree with the court’s findings and believed there were “substantial grounds for appeal” after consulting with its insurers and legal advisers.

Mr Cox said the Co-op would challenge the ruling through the appeal process but could not comment further while the matter remained before the courts.