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The repercussions of Gordon Ramsay’s alleged affair

By Kate Pritchard, published 1 year ago in Leadership.

Foul-mouthed entrepreneur and Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay is in hot water following claims he’s been conducting a seven-year affair. The ramifications are all the more severe because his father-in-law, Christopher Hutcheson, is CEO of Ramsay’s business empire.

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Indeed, it was Hutcheson who stumped up the money for Ramsay’s first restaurant in Chelsea, Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road, in 1998 and it is Hutcheson who runs the business operations of £31m-turnover Gordon Ramsay Holdings.

Oh dear.

Although publicity guru Max Clifford has said, “I don't think it will make a blind bit of difference to Ramsay's image and popularity at all,” it’s unlikely that Hutcheson will take kindly to rumours about his son-in-law's infidelity.

"When any business relationship breaks down, the financial and emotional pressures involved in seeking a resolution are always difficult to manage. However, when the business partner in question is a member of your own family or a close personal friend, this ups the ante significantly," comments Mishcon de Reya employment lawyer Beth Leng.

"Family members need to clearly and carefully document how conflict will be dealt with when issues arise and agree what will happen if the damage to the relationship becomes irreparable," continues Leng. "Along with provisions dealing with exits, there can be specific provisions in the agreement identifying a trusted third party to arbitrate disputes as they arise."  Even if this incident does tarnish Ramsay’s reputation, his wife Tana will undoubtedly win public support. Cynics would say it'll do wonders for her own career. Her third cookbook, Home Made, hits shelves this month...

Related articles:Gordon Ramsay outrages restaurant ownersGordon Ramsay cracks the States

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1 comment.

  1. val 352 days ago.

    I will never be able to afford Mr Ramsays restuarant prices, so I am not concerned about his restuarants. As for his alleged affair, that is for his wife to decide. Is it worth losing the brand and pass him on to some other woman or will she try and hang on to him

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