A gardener’s delight at GGT

I read with interest your item “GGT has ensured the four directors of GGT Direct who are leaving to join Lowe Direct will honour their contractual obligations until the end of April” (MW February 16).

As one of the four directors referred to, I find the inference that there was perhaps some doubt we might not honour our contractual obligations a little puzzling. Moreover, the reference to the end of April is inaccurate as my colleagues and I resigned with three months notice on January 16, thus taking us to April 16.

There was never any doubt that we would honour our contractual obligations and on resigning we offered to work our notice period, which concurred with GGT’s wishes. To our surprise, however, GGT put us on “garden leave” on January 22.

An even greater surprise was their action in obtaining an ex parte injunction on January 26 to prevent us from being involved with Lowe Direct until April 16. This action by GGT was surprising for three reasons.

First, we had not breached our contracts and had offered to work out our notice periods.

Second, an ex parte injunction means that you have no opportunity to challenge its granting.

And third, by obtaining a court order in this manner GGT was effectively threatening us with heavy fines and imprisonment.

In my view this response was wholly over the top and a completely unnecessary piece of overkill against four employees who were simply sitting out their agreed notice periods.

As was always planned, Lowe Direct will be open for business on April 17.

In the meantime, I, and my colleagues, are enjoying the remainder of our notice period as “garden leave” imposed by GGT and are not being asked to input into the business of GGT Direct or its clients.

Tony Watson

Chief executive

GGT Direct Advertising

London W1