Centerplate CEO ordered to donate US$100,000 after kicking dog in elevator

The CEO of a multibillion-dollar sports catering company is on the line after a shocking video surfaced of him kicking a dog and yanking its leash in the elevator at a private residence in Vancouver.

In response to the incident, Centerplate’s Board of Directors ordered CEO Desmond Hague to donate US$100,000 towards building a foundation in honour of the dog, named Sade, to support the protection and safety of animals in Vancouver. He’s also been told to commit 1,000 hours of community service towards an animal rights organization.

When asked to comment, the Connecticut-based company referred Yahoo Canada Finance to a statement issued by the board.

“The company finds Mr. Hague’s personal behavior unacceptable and outside the bounds of our high standards and expectations of all of our staff – we do not condone nor can we overlook the mistreatment of animals and Mr. Hague’s personal misconduct,” says the statement.

Centerplate has also given Hague a written censure placing him on indefinite probation.

In light of the public outrage, Hague issued his own statement apologizing for his inappropriate behavior and saying his actions were: “completely and utterly out of character and I am ashamed and deeply embarrassed.”

Animal cruelty charges are still pending in Vancouver.

CEOs behaving badly

Hague has the distinct pleasure of being counted among a legacy of CEO psychopaths including Young Lee, co-founder of the innocently named frozen yogurt chain Pinkberry.

Lee was sentenced to seven years in prison three years ago for beating a homeless man with a tire iron after the man flashed an indecent tattoo at several people in a car including the yogurt magnate’s fiancée.

The incident also brings to mind Gurbaksh Chahal, the founder and former CEO of advertising platform RadiumOne who was fired after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges for assaulting his girlfriend.

Chahal claims he plead guilty to the charges to satisfy his board despite security footage that allegedly showed the attack.

Unlike Hague, the alleged footage of Chahal didn’t see the light of day after the judge threw it out because police seized it unlawfully.