Former Connells Chief Executive David Livesey (pictured) has claimed he was bullied before retiring two years ago.

Livesey, who is now 67 and spent 16 years at the top of the UK’s largest estate agency, claims he was the victim of a “campaign of bullying behaviour”.

He accuses Stuart Haire, the chief executive of Connells’ owner Skipton Building Society, of “undermining and isolating” him after taking up the post in 2022.

And Livesey is suing Skipton for £7million, The Times reports, for unfair dismissal on the basis of discrimination.

Defending case

Haire denies the claims and Skipton is defending the case at an employment tribunal.

Lawyers acting for Haire and Skipton said the claims were “entirely unmeritorious” and “completely at odds with reality”.

But Livesey alleges Haire was responsible for “eroding his role, authority and influence” at Connells “in an attempt to force [him] to resign”, and that Haire wanted to replace Livesey before appointing a new management team.

Acquisition

The former Connells Chief Executive joined the company in 1990 as mortgage services director, holding a number of senior positions before being appointed Group CEO in 2008.

He oversaw the acquisition of Countrywide in March 2021, which more than doubled the size of the Connells Group

At the time in 2023 he announced his intention to retire, he said: “It has been my absolute privilege to be surrounded by the most talented team of property professionals in the country.

“As I prepare to hang up my clogs, I am confident that Connells Group will continue to prosper and grow”.

A spokesperson for Skipton told The Neg: “We are defending this claim and are limited in what we can say while it is before the Employment Tribunal. We are disappointed that the matter has progressed to this stage, however we firmly deny the allegations raised in this claim.”

The tribunal hearing continues.