SSD Concerts Managing Director steps down following employee mistreatment allegations

SSD Concerts, an event promotion company based in the North East of England who worked in partnership with the Virgin Money Unity Arena (which was the UK's first socially distant outdoor venue), was accused of mistreating its employees via a workplace review site called Glassdoor.

The largely anonymous negative reviews were posted to SSD Concerts' Instagram when it was hacked last month. The hacker has since been arrested, but after bands including IDLES, Lanterns on the Lake and Kelly Lee Owens cut ties with SSD Concerts following the allegations, the Managing Director Steve Davis has posted a statement confirming his decision to "step aside" from his current position at SSD Concerts "with immediate effect".

Davis wrote in his statement, "I would firstly like to say that it is vital to take any allegations of inappropriate behaviour seriously. If people feel they have been treated poorly, they should feel safe in speaking out and confident that action will be taken."

"There have been a number of online allegations, which have saddened me deeply," he continued. "The seriousness of what has been anonymously alleged - and the hateful response to these claims - has seriously affected my family. They are my priority, and I will do everything I can to protect them from online abuse."

"I would hope that this discussion can be one based upon the evidence. I entirely understand why people reading the comments about us posted on Glassdoor would be shocked. If true, they would mean people had been seriously let down. But I have been publicly tarnished based on several anonymous comments posted online."

"It breaks my heart that this has had such an immediate and detrimental impact on something that has taken so long to build. Since founding this company, I have always strived to conduct business in the right way."

"I am sorry for any mistakes I have made along the way, it has never been my intention. I would never want to upset or make anyone feel uncomfortable. If that has been the case, then I am shocked and saddened and am truly sorry. I will learn from any examples of such behaviour."

David closed his statement by writing, "Given the hurtful narrative that has transpired this week and the awful effect this has had on my family, I have decided to step aside from my position as Managing Director of SSD with immediate effect and will take no further part in the day to day running of the company. This of course is a decision taken with a heavy heart. The current board and management team will take the company forward and I wish them all the success in the future."