Ex-Kuda Executive Sues Company Over Discrimination, Wrongful Termination

A former top-level employee of Kuda, Rosemary Hewat, has brought a legal action against the company, alleging Gender Discrimination and Wrongful Termination Allegations. The Ex-Kuda Executive lawsuit was filed in a UK employment tribunal, claiming that Kuda Technologies Limited and its CEO, Babatunde Ogundeyi, created a toxic work environment.

According to the lawsuit, Hewat, who was the Group Chief People Officer, says that women at Kuda were often treated poorly, discriminated against, and pushed aside. She also claims she was denied stock options that were promised to her male counterparts. The Ex-Kuda Executive sues kuda, stating that she was fired after she raised concerns about how women were being treated in the workplace.

These allegations are quite different from the image Kuda presents to the public. The company has always portrayed itself as a supporter of gender equality and has made efforts to hire and keep female employees. Hewat herself played a significant role in these initiatives after joining the company in 2021.

In fact, in March 2023, she proudly announced that Kuda had achieved a 50/50 ratio of female to male employees. However, her lawsuit describes a work culture where women were routinely undermined and excluded.

Hewat’s lawsuit paints a picture of a hostile work environment under Ogundeyi’s leadership. She alleges he made disparaging remarks about female employees, publicly humiliated two female colleagues during a December 2023 strategy retreat, and described them as “low class” for their lack of exposure to luxury. She further claims that Ogundeyi encouraged a culture of fear, stating that employees “see him as God” and are “afraid to approach him”.

One of the main points of contention in the Ex-Kuda Executive lawsuit is the issue of employee stock options. Hewat claims that Kuda did not honor their agreement to grant her shares at the Series A price. Instead, she was offered them at a higher Series B valuation.

Meanwhile, a male colleague, Steven Bastian, had his terms adjusted to give him the more favorable Series A price. According to the lawsuit, Ogundeyi justified this difference by saying that Bastian’s role as Group CFO was “more important” than Hewat’s.

Hewat also claims that after she raised concerns about these issues, she was deliberately sidelined. She was excluded from important meetings, and her responsibilities were gradually taken over by other executives. When she complained, Ogundeyi allegedly told her to spend six months trying to get Khristolubov to like her.

Shortly after filing a formal complaint about the stock option issue in December 2023, Hewat was fired in February 2024. She argues that her dismissal was sudden and unjustified, and that Kuda tried to pass it off as a redundancy without following any proper procedures. Despite her firing, her responsibilities were simply absorbed by other employees.

Adding another layer to the situation, Kuda’s Chief Technical Officer, Mutairu Mustapha, reportedly told her that her termination was a “mistake” and encouraged her to return to work.

Kuda has acknowledged that the Ex-Kuda Executive sued kuda, but the company has not yet responded publicly to the specific allegations. A spokesperson stated that they do not comment on matters involving current or former employees.

Ogundeyi allegedly claimed that Hewat’s dismissal was due to cost-cutting measures, citing the devaluation of the naira in 2024. However, Hewat disputes this, pointing out that the company continued to spend money on things like a nanny for Ogundeyi’s children.

Hewat says that these events have had a significant impact on her mental and physical health, causing her to experience depression, panic attacks, and insomnia. As a result of the Gender Discrimination and Wrongful Termination Allegations, she is seeking financial compensation for lost benefits, emotional distress, and punitive damages.

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