:) Centerplate, Inc., announced Tuesday that its board of directors has replaced Desmond Des Hague as its chief executive, following the resignation of the leader who had become a lightning rod for condemnation after a video caught him abusing a dog in an elevator. Hague was the chief executive of a food concessions giant whose clients including public facilities of all sorts including sports stadiums and Providence Park, home of the Portland Timbers, Portland Thorns and Portland State football team. Timbers management last week urged decisive action against Hague last week after the video was published and its fans urged a boycott of concessions at Providence until Hague was removed. Centerplate management followed that with a series of punishments that fell short of dismissal. But after a weekend that included the opening of the collegiate football season, Centerplates board of directors sought a new direction. A statement issued by the Connecticut-based company did not make clear what had changed since its last announced punishment and this one. We want to reiterate that we do not condone nor would we ever overlook the abuse of animals, Centerplate board chairman Joe ODonnell said in a statement. Following an extended review of the incident involving Mr. Hague, Id like to apologize for the distress that this situation has cause for so many; but also thank our employees, clients and guests who expressed their feelings about this incident. Their voices helped us to frame our deliberations during this very unusual and unfortunate set of circumstances. The company said Chris Verros, chief operating officer since 2010, would be acting president and chief executive. Before joining Centerplate, Verros was executive vice president of Boston Culinary Group. Hague had been credited with leading Centerplate through an era of growth since he became chief executive in 2009. Hague had apologized for his actions, shown on a video taken in late July in a Vancouver, B.C., apartment building. The video showed him repeatedly kicking a 1-year-old Doberman pinscher -- Sade -- then yanking the leashed dog. Hague, who faces the possibility of criminal charges in the incident, later said the dog belonged to a friend. This story will be updated. — Allan Brettman
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 15:28:33 +0000
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