S4C gives large payout to former boss it sacked

S4C is to give a huge payout to the former boss it sacked. The Welsh language broadcaster’s former CEO Sian Doyle has agreed a settlement after a lengthy legal process between her, the channel, and its former chairman Rhodri Williams.

- RUTH MOSALSKI Political editor

Former S4C chief executive, Sian Doyle

(Rob Browne)

The settlement with Ms Doyle is to end the claim she filed in the High Court against her former employer. Ms Doyle was on sick leave when she was sacked from her £162,000 a year role in November 2023. She said she was fired without being given the chance to respond to allegations made against her.

In her claim in the High Court, Ms Doyle had said she had been “subjected to a truly extraordinary and inappropriate period of mistreatment” which had damaged her health and her wellbeing.

She said at the time that she was “dismissed by the chairman of S4C, Rhodri Williams, in what I believe is an unprecedented lack of governance for a public body”

She added: “I was dismissed by letter, without notice, without a meeting, without seeing a copy of the Capital Law report or any evidence, without a right of appeal, and without proper grounds”

Her lawyers said in February the claim was for negligence [breach of the duty of care owed to our client], unlawful harassment, misfeasance in public office, breach of privacy rights, breach of confidence, and data protection breaches.

Ms Doyle had been accused of bullying staff members and then-chairman Mr Williams commissioned a report by Capital Law.