Sacked Aussie Execs Launch Wrongful Termination Proceedings Against JLL

Two recently fired executives of JLL Australia have commenced legal action against the global real estate consultancy for wrongful termination.

Peter Blade and Greg Pike, both former high-ranking members of JLL’s Aussie industrial team, announced in separate LinkedIn postings on Monday that they had begun proceedings with the Federal Court of Australia and the Fair Work Commission over what they called the “procedurally deficient” and “flawed” investigation process that preceded their sacking.

Their claims are likely to complicate the task of JLL’s newly appointed interim CEO for Australia and New Zealand, Luke Billiau, following the departure of former CEO Daniel Kernaghan in August. Kernaghan is said to have been dismissed in the wake of misconduct allegations regarding the company’s Victoria industrial team, which led to multiple departures from that department. Local news reports have indicated that Kernaghan is also contesting his dismissal.

“Our current focus is on supporting our people and rebuilding trust with our clients, partners, and stakeholders,” Billiau said Monday in a statement on the results of the external investigation conducted by law firm Clyde & Co. “We are determined to uphold a safer and more accountable organisation for the long term. We know that trust must be earned, and this work will continue until meaningful change is embedded in everything we do.”

Sharp Words

Blade, who until this month was JLL’s head of industrial and logistics agency for Australia, railed against what he termed “appalling” treatment at the hands of his employer that “caused immeasurable personal and professional harm”.

In his LinkedIn post, Blade contended that he was never interviewed during the course of Clyde & Co’s investigation, nor was he advised of any allegation made against him. He further accused JLL of making a misleading statement when it informed him that the decision to end his employment was not related to any specific finding in respect of his conduct as an employee.

That notice was followed only hours later, Blade said, by JLL issuing an all-staff email stating that the investigation “identified some issues in parts of the business where behaviour and leadership fell short of the standards expected at JLL” and that “several individuals have now left the business.”

“Given that my termination occurred only hours earlier, this statement was highly misleading, damaging and indefensible,” Blade said.

Pike, formerly head of industrial brokerage for Australia, made similar charges in his own posting, saying JLL had told him that his termination was not based on any specific finding in respect of conduct, but rather reflected “the view that a change is required in the industrial business in Australia”.

“I wish to make it absolutely clear that any suggestion of wrongdoing on my part is entirely without foundation,” Pike said.

Comprehensive Plan

JLL said it would implement a “comprehensive plan” based on Clyde & Co’s report to establish stronger leadership, clarified governance, enhanced training, and open and transparent communication across the business.

In addition to Billiau’s appointment until a permanent CEO is recruited, the actions to be taken include collaboration between the global executive board members and Billiau to review current executive committees’ composition and to strengthen processes.

A new HR leader is to be appointed to bolster the centralised employee relations function, including a more robust investigative capability, the consultancy said.

JLL also announced the termination of “several individuals” whose identities it said would remain confidential for privacy reasons.