The former AA chairman, who was sacked after a “sustained and violent assault” on a colleague at a five-star hotel, is taking the company to an employment tribunal.
The roadside repair firm declared itself “astonished” at the legal claim by Bob Mackenzie, who was dismissed for gross misconduct last year following the late-night incident. Mackenzie is also understood to be considering whether to launch a separate legal claim for his share of a bonus scheme potentially worth tens of millions.
His departure followed a late-night incident in the bar of the Pennyhill Park hotel in Surrey, captured on CCTV, in which he attacked the company’s insurance boss, Mike Lloyd.
Mackenzie’s lawyers are understood to be claiming that he was wrongfully dismissed, having been under extreme pressure and should be entitled to damages. They will also say that the company had excluded him from talks over a proposed merger between the AA’s insurance business and rival Hastings, which they say was a factor in the altercation.
Friends and family members have said that the company had placed extreme pressure on Mackenzie, who was “not well” and had mixed the prescription drug diazepam with alcohol before the attack.
In a statement, the AA said: “We are astonished that Mr Mackenzie is taking this to an employment tribunal. We stand by our decision to dismiss him for gross misconduct following his sustained and violent assault on another employee of the AA, and will robustly defend any action.”
A spokesperson for Mackenzie declined to comment.
Mackenzie’s dismissal meant he was designated a “bad leaver” and forfeited his part in a share bonus scheme rewarding directors involved in the AA’s 2014 float that sources said could have been worth more than £70m.
He had been executive chairman of the AA since 2014, when he was instrumental in the stock market flotation.
The AA’s announcement of his sacking sent the company’s shares tumbling 14%, wiping about £200m off the value of the company.
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