AA boss sacked for “gross misconduct”, but family claim he has "mental health issue”
Motoring organisation sacked its boss yesterday, but family are said to be shocked
The AA has sacked its executive chairman for “gross misconduct”.
The motoring organisation says that Bob Mackenzie has left the company with “immediate effect”, but has not elaborated on the reason other than to say it was a “personal conduct-related matter”.
The BBC reports that Bob Mackenzie’s son Peter said his father “tendered his resignation… due to acute ill health”, which he had been suffering from “for some time”.
He said: “This is an extremely distressing mental health issue.
“A consultant clinical psychologist advised him last week that he needed to take at least six months leave. He is very unwell and has been admitted to hospital.”
We contacted the AA for comment on these claims. A spokesperson said: “As this is a personal matter, we are unable to provide any more information than is in the statement.”
Mackenzie has been replaced by senior independent director John Leach, while Simon Breakwell, who was a founder of travel company Expedia, has been appointed acting chief executive.
The news, combined with the company announcing that finances had been hit by “erratic work load patterns” in the first six months of the year, saw the company’s share price slide by 14 per cent.
It showed some signs of recovery this morning but has dipped again since.
Mackenzie joined the AA as part of a management buy-in backed by a series of institutional investors in 2014.
