Clarks boss was axed for ‘rugby club language’

Clarks’s former boss was guilty of ‘rugby club language’ and ‘expressions that offended his staff’, the Mail can reveal.

Mike shearwood, 55, was forced out of the family- owned shoe maker last week after an investigation into complaints of ‘conduct that failed to meet its code of business ethics’.

The company said ‘aspects of shearwood’s conduct, conversations and expressions fell short of the behaviours expected of all its employees on a number of occasions’ – but no further details were given.

But shareholders – the majority of whom are members of the Clark family – have been briefed by the board about their chief executive’s departure.

‘His inappropriate behaviour was not of a sexual nature or had anything to do with sexual harassment,’ said a source.

‘There were repeated incidents of expressions that offended his staff and the use of language that might have been overlooked 20 years ago but

which in the current climate have to be taken seriously.’

another source said shearwood used ‘rugby club language’ which was reported first to the company’s human resources department and then, because of its ‘serious nature’, was discussed at board level, after which it was agreed that he would offer his resignation.

Founded nearly 200 years ago by two brothers, Cyrus and James Clark, the company has more than 555 stores in Britain and some 700 around the world.

The Clark brothers were Quakers and the company today still remains loyal to what it calls its ‘enduring values’.

a sexism controversy engulfed Clarks last year when it named a girls’ shoe range ‘Dolly Babe’ and a boys’ line ‘leader’. The inner soles of the girls’ shoes featured love hearts, while footballs decorated the outside of the boys’ shoes. at the time, scottish First Minister Nicola sturgeon rebuked the company, which apologised.