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Business Insider

6 Aug, 10 tweets, 6 min read

@wsj

In January, the @wsj reported that @Google had investigated the alleged bullying behavior of @DeepMind cofounder, Mustafa Suleyman.

@thisisinsider has exclusive details from a dozen current and former employees who have worked under him. ⬇️
businessinsider.com/deepmind-musta…

Through conversations with current and former employees, Insider has learned that the investigation came after years of internal complaints to HR and executives.

It also comes after confidential settlements between DeepMind and former employees.

businessinsider.com/deepmind-musta…

During his tenure at DeepMind, Sulleyman was an executive who drove his team to great heights and, sometimes, great despair.

businessinsider.com/deepmind-musta…

In one case, Suleyman sent a profanity-laden email to a Listserv of more than 100 employees complaining that the communications team “f---ed up” after disagreements over a blog post, one former employee said.

businessinsider.com/deepmind-musta…

Multiple people said Suleyman would sometimes scream at employees in group meetings and one-on-ones.

He would also “gossip” in the office about firing certain people and would sometimes act on it, these people said.

businessinsider.com/deepmind-musta…

Two former employees recalled seeing colleagues crying after meetings with Suleyman. Others said he would often set “unrealistic expectations" and ask employees to carry out tasks unrelated to their work.

businessinsider.com/deepmind-musta…

Multiple complaints about Suleyman were raised to HR, but seemingly no action was taken.

One employee said they contacted Google's internal bullying hotline but received no response.

businessinsider.com/deepmind-musta…

@wsj

The @wsj story was when most rank-and-file staffers learned that the timing of Suleyman’s move to Google was more complicated than it appeared. Publicly, it looked like Suleyman opted to take a break from DeepMind before taking on a bigger role at Google.

businessinsider.com/google-deepmin…

@wsj

Insider obtained the internal memo DeepMind sent a day after the @wsj report. In it, HR wrote the firm had chosen to keep its investigation confidential, citing privacy, to allow employees to speak openly.

Read the full memo by subscribing to Insider.
businessinsider.com/google-deepmin…

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