‘Phones 4u founder gave me a baby ban’
THE billionaire founder of Phones 4u asked his former business partner to “agree to a baby ban”, a court heard.
Finance expert Nathalie Dauriac, 39, told the High Court in London that John Caudwell, 65, asked her to agree not to have children when they set up a business, Signia Wealth Management, together eight years ago.
She told Mr Justice Marcus Smith that she declined, but did agree not to have children until the new business was “firmly established”. She now has children aged five and three.
Ms Dauriac is suing Mr Caudwell, the British entrepreneur, for constructive dismissal, claiming she lost shares worth more than £10 million when she left her job as chief executive of Signia.
In a written witness statement, Ms Dauriac told Mr Justice Smith: “I did agree that I would only have children once the business was firmly established and when we both agreed it was growing and successful – which is what I did.”
But Ms Dauriac said Mr Caudwell went on to orchestrate an “elaborate conspiracy” against her, launching an “unfair” expenses investigation. Signia bosses say Ms Dauriac wrongfully claimed £30,000 expenses, saying this was “brazen” and added that she was guilty of gross misconduct.
All sides dispute allegations made against them and the hearing continues.