Boohoo boss quit amid ‘corporate espionage and stalking of executives’

The former boss of Boohoo resigned after alleged stalking and “corporate espionage” targeted at several of the retailer’s executives.
John Lyttle, who stepped down on October 18 after five years as chief executive, is understood to have cited stalking and surveillance concerns as reasons for his exit.
Lyttle, Dan Finley, Boohoo’s chief executive, and co-founder Mahmud Kamani, claim to have over the past few months been routinely followed by men on public transport and in other public spaces, at locations in London, Kent and Manchester.
It is also alleged that some of the Boohoo executives report being watched from outside their homes.
The Times understands the reports of stalking and surveillance left Boohoo staff and their family members “feeling anxious, intimated and violated”.
Police forces in Manchester and Kent are investigating reports of “corporate espionage” and stalking offences, including those involving “serious alarm and distress”, allegedly aimed at those Boohoo bosses.
Kamani was allegedly assaulted by one of the individuals, while there are claims that Lyttle encountered two trespassers on his property.
The identity of the alleged perpetrators is unknown, as is the identity of any person or organisation who may have commissioned them. Inquiries continue and no arrests have been made.
The fashion retailer discovered unregistered surveillance equipment outside its head office in Manchester on November 13, which it claims had been recording employees as they entered and exited the building. The device has been removed and handed over to the police.
The incidents were reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office, which is the UK data regulator, and Manchester city council.
An ICO spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that Boohoo Group has made us aware of concerns regarding the discovery of surveillance equipment outside its head office.”
It is understood the ICO had told Boohoo that Manchester city council had not placed a camera outside the Boohoo head office.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester police said this week: “An investigation is ongoing around stalking involving serious alarm/distress with no arrests made at this stage.”
Kent police has said it was investigating “reported stalking offences including at locations within the Sevenoaks area. Inquiries are ongoing and there have been no arrests.”
Police declined to comment on whether or not any individuals or organisations are under investigation.
The allegations come amid an increasingly bitter boardroom battle between the fast-fashion giant and Frasers Group, which is a 28 per cent shareholder.
Frasers is pushing for Mike Ashley, its founder, to become chief executive of Boohoo, having accused the fashion retailers’ board of having “lost its ability to manage” the online fashion company. It is also calling for Boohoo to appoint a restructuring expert, Mike Lennon, as a director.
The attempted boardroom coup came after Boohoo last month announced the surprise departure of Lyttle, a £222 million debt refinancing and a “disappointing” half-year trading update.
A Boohoo spokesman said: “It would be inappropriate to comment while a police investigation is ongoing.”
Michael Murray, chief executive of Frasers and the son-in-law of Ashley, said of the Boohoo allegations: “My thoughts are [that] we can’t comment at this stage.”