BrewDog CEO Claims He Is Target Of ‘Criminal Shakedown’

BrewDog Co-founder James Watt recently defended himself against allegations of bullying, and hypocrisy raised in the last year, alleging a ‘criminal shakedown.’

Here’s the deal…

On January 24 , BBC Disclosure (think 60 Minutes but with a British accent) debuted a documentary entitled The Truth About BrewDog, which started what Watt calls a 2 year-long coordinated campaign of online harassment, defamation, blackmail, significant fraud, and malicious communications.”

Then on March 14, The Guardian reported that Watt had hired private investigators to find out who was spreading what he sees as false and damaging allegations against him, co-founder Martin Dickie and the company, and he took to Linkedin to defend his actions and the now global craft brewery.

But his campaign to defend his name (as well as the BrewDog brand) continues. And he recently did an interview with Josh Glancy for The Sunday Times Magazine, where he did not mince words.

In the interview, Watt described the previous year as “nothing short of hell”. He reiterated his belief that he had been “subject to a two-year criminal shakedown. A campaign of harassment, malicious communication and blackmail.” Watt claims that there are “people working together behind the scenes to attack me with criminal means.”

The interview also delved into Watt’s upbringing. “Born into a wealthy family, he describes how his parents’ refusal to give him praise gave him an ‘inadequacy complex’.”

He also acknowledged that though his leadership style could be “too intense”, and his interpersonal skills marred by an inability to pick up “social cues,” according to the Drinks Business.

Citing time spent working on North Sea trawlers, Watt told Glancy that those critical of his intensity would understand if they spent “a week in a fishing boat under some of the captains I’ve sailed with.”

Watt, who sometimes refers to himself as “Captain of BrewDog,” remains a controversial figure in the craft beer world. Although he has an international fanbase, which has enabled the brand’s global expansion (27 new venues are set to open this year around the world), he is also a lightning rod for fierce criticism.

Even though it’s been a controversial time for Watt, he stands by his determination to grow BrewDog at all costs and the issue of whether Watt was the victim of a conspiracy is heading to criminal courts in the UK.

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(All image credits: BrewDog)