Boss of Sarah Ferguson-linked firm used royal links to threaten worker with jail
Manuel Fernandez, Boss of Sarah Ferguson-Linked Firm, Threatened Worker with Jail Using Royal Ties
Boss of Sarah Ferguson linked firm – Manuel Fernandez, the boss of the Sarah Ferguson-linked firm, leveraged his royal connections to intimidate a former employee into facing potential jail time, as revealed by a BBC recording. The incident centers on Alex, a contractor who worked at vVoosh, the defunct lifestyle app Fernandez founded. Alex claims he was accused of breaching “royal security” by allegedly hacking emails, a charge that was used to pressure him during a high-stakes meeting. The threat underscores how Fernandez’s ties to the monarchy amplified his influence over the company’s staff, even as vVoosh struggled financially.
Background of the Firm and Its Ties
vVoosh, based in London’s Shoreditch, aimed to create a social networking platform similar to Facebook. However, the project never launched, leading to the company’s collapse last year. Sarah Ferguson, a prominent figure in the royal family, was a key investor and served as an “ambassador” for the business. She held around 1% of the shares and provided a £50,000 loan, according to company records. While Ferguson maintains their relationship is purely professional, Fernandez’s use of royal connections suggests a deeper level of influence over the firm’s operations.
The worker’s allegations reveal a pattern of using royal affiliations to control employees. Internal documents, including WhatsApp messages and letters, show how Fernandez and others framed the situation to escalate the threat. Alex, who had been with the company for nearly six years, claims he was only owed thousands in unpaid invoices. This led him to record a meeting with Fernandez and another individual, Mark Harry, as a precaution against potential legal action.
The Threatening Encounter
On June 17, 2017, Fernandez sent Alex a WhatsApp message summoning him to an “urgent meeting at B Palace” involving royal VIPs. The meeting was portrayed as critical to the company’s reputation, with Fernandez emphasizing its importance. During the session, Alex’s personal phone was seized by Mark Harry, a former soldier turned security adviser. Harry insisted the device belonged to the firm, preventing Alex from accessing his own data. This act of intimidation, coupled with references to royal authority, left Alex feeling vulnerable and threatened.
“I was so scared because this guy was, like, three times my size,” Alex said in an interview with the BBC.
Harry claimed the Palace would not tolerate the alleged breach, stating that the incident had become a top priority. He also suggested that the company’s actions were part of a broader effort to maintain security standards. Fernandez, however, warned Alex that he might face up to two years in prison for violating the Computer Misuse Act, adding that other employees were implicated in the hacking allegations. Despite these threats, Alex denies any wrongdoing, asserting that the company’s email account was used for Sarah Ferguson’s communications.
Denials and Continued Influence
Fernandez has refuted the claims, stating he “strongly disputes” the allegations against him. He argues that the company’s concerns about data security were addressed by legal advisers and that no action was taken against him for those issues. His representatives have not yet responded to BBC inquiries, leaving the situation unresolved. Meanwhile, Harry has defended his role, insisting that the matter was handled by the appropriate authorities at the time. Yet, the meeting’s details suggest a coordinated strategy to use royal links as leverage against employees, potentially shaping their behavior through fear of legal repercussions.
The case highlights the power of royal connections in business contexts. Fernandez’s ability to invoke the monarchy’s authority in a confrontation demonstrates how such ties can be weaponized to assert dominance. While the firm’s collapse raises questions about its financial viability, the incident reveals a more personal dimension to Fernandez’s leadership, intertwining his professional role with his private relationships to the royal family. The full extent of these connections and their impact on company operations remains under investigation.