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10 Nov 2011
EX-CIMA council member Margaret May has been found guilty of misconduct in a long-running case focused on procedure and disputes in the institute's inner circle.
May "failed to act with integrity and professionalism" when sending an email that she "did not honestly believe" accurately reflected the outcome of an executive committee meeting held in February 2010.
Further reading
In a separate charge, she was found not guilty of misconduct for sending an email raising concerns about chief executive Charles Tilley's non-executive directorship of Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the tribunal panel said council members should be free to raise such issues without fear of reprisal.
However, May was found guilty of misconduct for disseminating a private and confidential letter from Tilley, in which he responded to her email about his GOSH non-executive directorship.
May declined to comment on the verdict apart from to confirm: "We will definitely be appealing the decision."
A member of CIMA for more than 30 years, she has so far spent £41,000 fighting to clear her name and might face further costs imposed by the institute.
The scale of these is as yet unknown, but her lawyer Garrett Bryne, said an early CIMA estimate put the bill at £67,000, of which £63,000 was counsel fees.
"That is what we were told earlier this year, who knows what the costs are now?" he continued.
May resigned from the CIMA council in June 2011 and has stepped down from her portfolio of four non-executive directorships and might resign from three more if further appeals are unsuccessful.
An independent barrister will chair an appeal panel, which could be welcomed by the respondent, who has suggested she has not received a fair hearing.
May's defence touches on "politics" at the institute and her lawyer accused CIMA committee members of "wanting to advance their own agenda at the expense of others".
The panel is currently considering sanctions and costs.
More to follow
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Visitor comments Add your comment
CIMA misconduct case
Irrespective of the facts in the case this saga is not doing CIMA's reputation any good at all. I would seriously reconsider seeking to join CIMA if I had been looking to do so
Posted by: Mervyn Pilley, 11 Nov 2011 | 12:27
The action reeks of bureaucratic overkill
As a Fellow member of CIMA, I feel our reputation has been diminished by such public polemics from internal Palace intrigue. The Secretary should have known how to settle a feud with a Council member without bringing it to this sorry state. Emails are used to express private views (like a conversation) and should not be given any more weighting. It is obscene for CIMA to spend £169,000 of our money on pursuing a private vendetta and no one (not even the Secretary) is bigger than the Institute. The Exco should have the courage to show both parties a yellow card and move on. I call for a reduction in Members' annual fees to stop this type of waste. It is the Institute that is paramount in all of this, stupid.
Posted by: Ivan Pedropillai B.Sc., M.Sc., FCCA, FCMA, 11 Nov 2011 | 13:32
Margaret's Case
I think it would be in the interest of CIMA to give May a fair hearing. This would go a long way to preserve CIMA's own reputation.
Posted by: Mabel Tsyawo, 11 Nov 2011 | 15:56
Get Over It
This form of personal wrangling just brings the whole profession into the public gaze. Surely it is the Charman's role to get them both into a room and resolve this.
What a waste of legal fees. I wouldnt pay these people a sub if this is how they squander money.
Posted by: Russell Mitchell, 14 Nov 2011 | 11:23
One should not be surprised
I have monitored the CEO & Council's behaviour over the last 10/11 years. CIMA has made a complete u-turn in its attitude to members - shut up! One cannot be surprised as to how the 'power house' responds to an 'individual' who speaks openly - shut up! Margaret has guts to take on this 'power house', it is a pity members will never know the truth (or will they?)
Posted by: Clifford Moggs, 14 Nov 2011 | 20:09
Out of Touch
Although I comment on the specifics of this case, it is yet another example of how out of touch CIMA is. I have recently resigned due to the Institute's archaic attitude towards the granting of Fellowship. It's more like the Freemasons than a modern professional body.
Posted by: Andrew Rowling, 21 Jan 2012 | 11:14