A CITY boss is facing a probe over an email praising a colleague’s use of the words “hairy” and “growler” in conversation.
The message from Stuart Rouse, pictured above, to 350 workers at Nexus Underwriting left staff outraged at the “inappropriate language”.
The £650,000-a-year insurance firm chief exec sent the note to honour a London office-based staffer who was semi-retiring after 46 years.
He wrote of “his ability to include the words ‘hairy’ and ‘growler’ into a conversation, quite often leaving the room to howl”.
Sources said the workforce who got the email included young school leavers.
One worker told The Sun that Mr Rouse, in the role for a year, was trying to be “laddish” to try to endear himself to employees.
They said: “This extraordinary email was his attempt to bond with the workforce after a series of bust-ups.
“Immediately after it was sent, staff were asking if it was a spoof.
“The language was so inappropriate, and so everyone was asking, ‘Is this real?’.
“The crazy thing is that the veteran staffer is mortified.
“He’s a regular, trusted colleague who is not renowned for such coarse language. Nothing could be further from the truth.”
Nexus launched an investigation after the June 30 email was sent, but a spokeswoman could not confirm reports Mr Rouse was suspended.
The firm said it was aware of an email that “contains language and references that are wholly inappropriate and offensive”.
It said an internal probe has been launched, adding: “We acknowledge the seriousness of this matter and unreservedly apologise for the offence caused.”
Linkedin£650,000-a-year insurance firm chief exec Stuart Rouse sent the note to honour a London office-based staffer[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
