Disgraceful, Deceitful leadership - A Titanic Mess - Anonymous employee Boats Group Employee Review

Boats Group (previously Dominion Marine Media) was subject to a leveraged buyout a year ago by a private equity fund. The new owners APAX initially promised great things. Then the new executive team arrived, the business was relocated to Miami and the Vancouver and Norfolk head office was promptly closed with 80% of the staff leaving. During the sale of the business original employee severance terms were renegotiated so anyone who had been with the business for many years was financially out of pocket, benefits were cut to the bare minimum and 401k contributions stopped. What remains now is an inexplicably vindictive culture from management towards its employees, combined with a dereliction of responsibilities from the C-levels. The business will sell you on being start-up centric, collaborative and energetic, the reality is, decisions are already made behind closed doors based on information supplied by consultants or regurgitated by executives/managers who steal them from their employees. The CEO is completely unaware of the real problems, is disconnected from staff and has buried his head in the sand. From the top down, this business thrives on lies, slander and political turmoil. It is machiavellian to its core. The draconian management style of certain departments has disconnected the staff into factions. Unless you are a "yes" person, you are destined to be sidelined by management who believe their title commands unquestionable respect. If you happen to speak out against anyone senior than you, using rational, logical and sensible ideas, you are going to be eased out of the business. The Technology team can be singled out as being fundamentally mis-managed by a narcissistic CTO who has absolutely no integrity and a penchant for female employees. The cardboard cut out leader has fired all the experienced staff and replaced them with his buddies who are lesser in skill and experience. Its apparent that this has changed from a respectful team, to a clique lead by a high school bully. Zero understanding of the issues, creates this void of information between reality and his ideas, its chaos. Professionally you would receive more respect and honesty working under the Third Reich. Boats group have perfected the art of glorifying those that don't deserve it, and vilifying those who do. I feel sorry for those that have to continue working here.