RSA to appeal former Ireland CEO’s tribunal win

Insurer RSA has revealed that it will appeal the Employment Appeal Tribunal’s (EAT) decision to award Philip Smith, the former chief executive officer of RSA Ireland, €1.25 million in damages.

Last March, Smith brought a case for constructive dismissal against RSA. He had resigned in November 2013 without severance.

Smith, along with RSA Ireland chief financial officer Rory O’Connor and claims director Peter Burke, had been suspended in November that year, “pending the outcome of an investigation into issues in the Irish claims and finance functions”.

The tribunal said that RSA had gone “on a fact finding exercise to justify its predetermined decision” and that “at least two dozen other employees” were aware of the practice, according to the Irish Times.

An RSA spokesperson said: “We are extremely disappointed by the Tribunal’s decision and fundamentally disagree with it. We are considering our options but intend to appeal the judgement.”