Board in Shock: Leaked Emails Reveal CEO Andy Byron and HR Director Secretly Planned Weekend Getaway — While His Divorce Was Still Pending
In a scandal sending shockwaves through the upper ranks of corporate Britain, leaked internal emails have exposed a secret weekend escape plan between CEO Andy Byron and the company’s HR Director, Melissa Crane — despite the fact that Byron’s high-profile divorce is still underway.
The correspondence, which dates back just three weeks, was reportedly leaked by an anonymous insider and circulated among several board members late Monday evening — causing immediate panic, disbelief, and emergency meetings behind closed doors.
The Emails: “No One Can Know. Not Yet.”
One particularly damning thread, marked “CONFIDENTIAL – DELETE AFTER READING”, contains messages from Byron to Crane detailing a two-night stay at a private estate in Lake Windermere, including references to:
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A driver booked under a false name
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A second company credit card used for the reservation
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A chilling line from Byron:
“Let’s keep this far from legal eyes… the ink isn’t dry yet.”
Crane responded in the thread:
“Agreed. Zero risk. I’ll say it’s an HR wellness retreat if needed.”
Nation Reacts to “Unethical Power Pairing”
The public has erupted online, with the hashtag #ByronGate trending nationwide and thousands demanding accountability — not only for potential ethical violations, but for the staggering lack of judgement displayed by two of the company’s most senior figures.
“It’s not just a romantic scandal,” said corporate ethics analyst, Lucy Hartridge. “This has serious legal and governance implications, especially given Byron’s ongoing divorce proceedings and Crane’s position of HR oversight.”
Divorce Lawyers ‘Blindsided'
Sources close to Byron’s estranged wife, Julia, say she was “blindsided” by the leak, and her legal team is now reviewing whether the trip — and the concealment of financial transactions — could constitute a breach of marital disclosure laws. One insider claims she is “preparing an emergency injunction” against Byron and the company to obtain full access to his corporate expense accounts.
Board in Crisis Mode
A leaked internal message circulated just this morning shows Board Chair Jonathan Welles calling for an “urgent independent review” and warning of “potential reputational collapse” if the matter is not addressed immediately. Staff have been instructed not to speak to media, while HR offices were temporarily locked down this afternoon pending an internal audit.
What’s Next?
Insiders say Melissa Crane may be suspended within 48 hours, pending a formal investigation. Byron, meanwhile, is said to be “refusing to step down” and denying any misconduct, claiming the weekend was “a private matter” unrelated to work.
But with the full email thread, chat logs, and booking confirmations now in the hands of multiple news outlets, the pressure is rising — and fast.
Developing story: Who else knew about the weekend plan? Was company money used? And how will this impact the CEO’s £4.2m severance package if forced to resign?
Full leaked email thread expected to be released by whistleblower account later tonight.