Behind a Wall Street headhunter’s rapid ascent lie accusations of harassment and abuse
Durlston Partners, a financial-services-headhunting firm, wooed employees with the promise of fast cash, epic parties, and an unbeatable culture. But some people who worked there say its founder, Vax Bahram, also created a culture of fear, made racist and sexist comments, and potentially violated UK pension requirements.
Seven former employees spoke with Insider about their experiences at Durlston. Themes that emerged from conversations with former employees, as well as court records, emails, and WhatsApp messages Insider reviewed, were grievances over the leadership and an extensive range of abusive, erratic, and often unprofessional behavior by Bahram.
Through his attorneys, Bahram denied this characterization, which he said is “divorced from reality.”
In a statement provided by the lawyers, he said: “Durlston has worked immensely hard to build an inclusive and professional company culture over many years. This story arises from a small number of former employees, some of whom are attempting to form a competitor firm, making false allegations against the company and its founder. This cynical tactic to discredit the company for commercial gain is unethical and bound to fail.” |