Baroness Greenfield drops legal action against the Royal Institution

Governance | Vibeka Mair | 5 May 2010

Baroness Greenfield and the Royal Institution (RI) have settled their dispute in an undisclosed out-of-court agreement.

It brings some resolve to nearly four months of in-fighting at the charity, which began when the trustees decided Greenfield’s director post was no longer affordable in the light of recent funding problems. Their actions resulted in a reported sex discrimination lawsuit from Greenfield and a failed coup by some charity members to expel the board.

In a new twist, RI and Greenfield have now released a joint statement saying “they have reached a full agreement as to the terms for Baroness Greenfield’s departure from the post of director”.

The warring parties clearly seek to draw a line under the matter, stating that neither the RI nor Greenfield will make any further comment on the terms or the circumstances leading up to her departure.

The trustees also paid tribute to Greenfield’s work at the RI and stated that “in light of recent press coverage, we wish to clarify that decisions regarding the recent refurbishment of the premises on Albemarle Street had support and approval of the governing council”.

According to newspaper reports, a refurbishment of the Institution's Mayfair headquarters instigated by Greenfield has left the charity facing a shortfall of more than £3m - a deficit on unrestricted funds of £1.6m and net current liabilities of £1.5m.

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