Boss accused of bullying judged diversity awards

A former CEO of a dating app company, who was accused of bullying staff and reducing them to tears, was drafted in to judge an industry diversity and inclusion awards.

- ATHENA STAVROU

Rhonda Alexander, who was the boss of female-friendly dating app Fluttr, boasted about her judging credentials on social media despite claims against her including reducing colleagues to tears and “throwing eggs at ideas”.

A native New Yorker, Ms Alexander set out to create Fluttr, a dating app that sought to beat “Tinder Swindler” type dating app scams to create a “safe space” for women.

She describes herself as a “fierce female and diversity, equity, and inclusion champion” and a “fierce advocate for female leaders and entrepreneurs”.

However, an employment tribunal earlier this year ordered her the company which runs Fluttr to pay a former employee almost £100,000 after hearing testimony of “manipulative” behaviour perpetrated by the Cambridge graduate.

Pimfa, a trade association for investment managers, welcomed Ms Alexander to their panel to judge the awards given to individuals or organisations to celebrate “inspiring stories” of diversity and inclusion across the industry.