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Simon Matson says ‘complicated fat Arab’ slur regrettable but not discriminatory: Gallagher v Ardonagh

Royal Courts of Justice

Gallagher UK CEO Simon Matson yesterday gave evidence in the dispute between Gallagher and Ardonagh and others, in which Gallagher alleges its staff were unlawfully poached.

During the proceedings Matson faced a heavy line of questioning over the senior culture at the broker, by the barrister for Bishopsgate, David Craig QC.

Matson expressed regret over referring to defendant Nawaf Hasan as a “complicated fat Arab” during a 5 July 2017 Whatsapp exchange with Alesco chief operating officer, Gary Lashmar. At the time, Matson was CEO of Alesco.

To Matson’s message, Lashmar responded: “And a very greedy one”

Matson added he would like to “lose all of him [Hasan] but

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