Final week, it got here to mild that pioneering vegan cheese entrepreneur Miyoko Schinner had not solely parted methods along with her namesake firm, however that the break up between the founder and the corporate she began had turned acrimonious with Miyoko’s Creamery suing Schinner for stealing firm info, together with the formulations for among the model’s merchandise.
The information of Schinner’s departure broke on Thursday when the corporate issued a press launch. The discharge stated the corporate and Schinner had “parted methods as the corporate enters a brand new stage of progress” and that that they had engaged with an government search agency to discover a chief to take the corporate “into its subsequent stage of progress.”
A day later, information broke that the corporate had filed swimsuit in California, accusing the founding father of stealing important IP and deliberately disrupting firm operations as she hatched a plan to start out a competing firm.
“As a substitute of facilitating an orderly transition, following her termination as CEO, Schinner hatched a plot to steal the Firm’s property, commerce secrets and techniques, and confidential info in order that she may create a competing firm,” Miyoko’s stated within the grievance, in keeping with authorized reporting web site Law360. The corporate went on to assert that Schinner had downloaded 24 thousand paperwork from the corporate’s cloud storage, taken cheese cultures and new product prototypes from Miyoko Creamery’s warehouse, and had recruited different workers of the corporate to take part within the “scheme.”
After the corporate broke the information of Schinner’s departure by way of a press launch, Schinner responded on Linkedin and stated her removing as CEO occurred in June of 2022 and that “negotiations for my continued involvement stalled earlier than Christmas.”
And on Sunday, Schinner posted once more on Linkedin, responding to the information of the lawsuit:
I’m shocked that sure board members have determined to file a lawsuit in opposition to me. There are wild untruths about me which can be designed to destroy me and get me out of the way in which. I’ve been cooperative with the Firm since my termination.
I fail to spot how that is including worth to the model that I — and different values-driven, passionate vegan former workers — labored so onerous to construct.
Whereas I’m desirous to deliver the reality to mild, I’m going to maneuver with the care vital to make sure that I’m working in accordance with my fiduciary duties as a Director and with relevant authorized guidelines and tips. (whereas I stay a Director, I’m unsure of how a lot sway or say I even have). As at all times, I thanks in your belief, your persistence, and your help.
It’s stunning to see the corporate sue its namesake founder, a high-profile entrepreneur and well-regarded business pioneer. Little doubt, the corporate knew it could undergo vital model injury as information of the accusations spilled into public view, however apparently felt taking such drastic motion was vital.
We’ll preserve following this story because it unfolds…
