Tech boss receives $120,000 payout

The former boss of tech business Motim Technologies has been awarded $123,808 by the Employment Relations Authority after the company failed to pay his salary.

Motim Technologies helped promote some of the biggest players in the music and film industry, including Sony for its Ghostbusters movie launch, the blockbuster cartoon Despicable Me and global artists like Skrillex, Big Sean and Robin Thicke. Despite having some success, Motim struggled with its finances and Motim’s long-time chief executive, Andrew Plimmer, was foregoing his salary to assist the company’s cash-flow situation, the Employment Relations Authority decision said. Plimmer was Motim’s chief executive from October 2007 until he resigned in May 2018. Over his 10-year employment, Plimmer took just three months worth of the 200 days leave he was entitled to.

In 2017, Motim’s owner Powerhouse Ventures proposed selling its shareholding in Motim to American business, Cross Tech LLC.

Plimmer, along with former chairman and director John Cunningham, as well as the majority of shareholders opposed the proposal.

Cunningham said the board was aware Plimmer had not been taking annual leave but was supportive of him focusing on sales activity rather than taking leave.

In January last year, struggling Powerhouse cleaned out Motim’s directors, including Cunningham, and replaced them with one sole director, John Walley.

Walley raised concerns Plimmer’s leave.

Plimmer’s annual salary was $195,000 but the authority’s calculation showed he had accumulated $85,725 in unpaid annual leave and holiday pay.

Shortly after Plimmer went to the US to meet with Cross Tech LLC, he resigned without notice because he did not believe Motim would pay him his salary arrears totalling $50,000.

‘‘Despite my direct investment and previous willingness to accept some delays in about my salary, this is no longer tenable due to the recent aggressive dilution of my shareholder position and intended disposal of Motim’s assets in the proposed transaction to Cross Tech, a transaction that was previously voted against by all shareholders other than Powerhouse,’’ Plimmer said in his resignation letter.

Plimmer then filed a statutory demand against Motim in May 2018, seeking payment of salary arrears.

Motim was ordered to pay Plimmer $35,000 in salary arrears and $85,725 in unpaid annual leave and $3000 in court costs.

Motim has also been fined $4000 for failing to pay Plimmer his holiday entitlement.