Media and marketing industry website Mumbrella published an extraordinary article detailing the drug taking after her Christmas party which led to the resignation of two staff members.
David Longman, CEO of the media’s parent company, Diversified Communications Australia, posted details of the after-party on the Mumbrella website this morning.
“After a serious incident following Sydney’s Christmas party last year, which included Mumbrella staff, I felt it necessary to take the lead and share what happened, including the ramifications “said Mr. Longman.
CEO of Mumbrella’s parent company, David Longman, said in a post that after Mumbrella’s Christmas party on December 9, some staff ‘purchased, distributed and consumed’ illicit drugs at the site’s head office. Walker Street information desk.
Mumbrella’s Christmas party was held at the Green Mustache restaurant (pictured) in North Sydney on December 9 before some staff continued the party at the office
Mr Longman said that after Mumbrella’s Christmas party held at the Green Mustache restaurant in North Sydney on December 9, some staff returned to its Walker Street headquarters.
“During this time, illicit drugs were purchased, distributed and consumed by a number of employees there,” Mr. Longman wrote.
“Staff ranged from junior to more senior staff.”
An investigation by the company’s human resources department began last week after the incident was discovered, Mr Longman said.
“Unfortunately, following the investigation, two members of Mumbrella staff have resigned and a number of others have been given notice.
“In addition, the staff involved will undertake a drug awareness and education program which I believe will provide long-term benefits.”
David Longman, CEO of Diversified Communications Australia, the parent company of Mumbrella
The CEO said he felt compelled to go public with the incident because of the new site’s long history of media and marketing industry accountability.
‘[Mumbrella] questioned the actions of individuals and companies that apparently failed to act in the best interests of staff, customers and the industry at large,” Mr. Longman noted.
“Mumbrella is a strong believer in diversity, culture and a safe work environment, and is not shy about pushing the industry to improve.
“But we’re not perfect ourselves, and this article is written because I think it’s important to take ownership of bad decisions.”
Mr Longman said the two people who quit were ‘appreciated people who were both good at their jobs and contributed to the success of Mumbrella’, denying that their departures were a ‘cost-cutting exercise’.
“This has been an uncomfortable piece for me to write and I hope not to grace Mumbrella’s digital pages often in the future,” Mr. Longman signed.
Mumbrella founder Tim Burrowes, who only left the company last year after selling it to Diversified Communications in 2017, provided further details about the ill-fated Christmas gathering in his regular newsletter, hinting that the illicit drug in question was cocaine. “…they got into the sacks,” Mr. Burrowes wrote.
“Yes, it was so cliché,” he also noted.
“As David Longman suggests in his article, the reason this came to light is that there was a whistleblower within the Mumbrella team,” Mr Burrowes wrote.
“He was not someone motivated by domestic politics, but because he wanted to do the right thing by Mumbrella, which would otherwise have been incredibly compromised.”
“Even though I’m no longer part of the Mumbrella team, I’ll still be its founder, so I still hold on to its reputation.”
A number of journalists were quick to tweet about the Mumbrella Christmas party debacle, as well as comedian (and former journalist) Wil Anderson
“Breaking: Mumbrella is having a great Christmas party,” tweeted journalist Patrick Lenton
A number of journalists were quick to tweet about the Mumbrella Christmas party debacle.
“Breaking: Mumbrella is having a great Christmas party,” tweeted journalist Patrick Lenton.
“Typical Mumbrella story, hundreds of words and in the end you go: well duh,” joked comedian Wil Anderson.
James Hennessy described Mr Longman’s post as a “hall of fame” item.
“It would be easier for those involved to keep it behind closed doors, but as Mumbrella has done throughout his time, we have recognized our mistakes,” Mr. Longman wrote.
