David Livesey, the former chief executive of Connells, Britain’s largest estate agency, has won an employment tribunal case against Skipton Building Society, his former employer, on grounds of unfair dismissal and age discrimination. Livesey, 67, had worked at Connells for 33 years before Skipton acquired the company in 2010.

The tribunal ruling comes three years after Livesey was forced out, when he alleged that he had been pushed out by Skipton’s chief executive, Stuart Haire, amid claims of bullying. While the tribunal dismissed the bullying accusation, it upheld two claims related to discrimination.

Central to the dispute was the treatment Livesey received regarding his Connells shareholding. Livesey was issued a cheque for just 46 pence on shares he had originally purchased for £420,000. In contrast, a fellow director was paid more than £1.6 million for a smaller stake. The tribunal found that the significantly less favorable terms offered to Livesey were unjustified and constituted discrimination.

Skipton Building Society expressed disappointment with the tribunal’s decision, contesting the findings. Livesey had sought damages reportedly totaling £7 million as part of his claim, reflecting losses from unfair dismissal and discriminatory treatment.

This ruling highlights ongoing concerns about corporate governance and treatment of senior executives in major acquisitions within the UK property sector. It also underscores the potential legal consequences for companies failing to uphold equitable standards for employee treatment, particularly regarding share ownership and exit arrangements.