Pride London CEO Fired for Misusing Funds

0:00On April 2nd, the head of Pride in London just got fired after getting busted for blowing 7,000 pounds in sponsor vouchers on luxury perfumes and apple gear. Those vouchers were meant for volunteers as raffle prizes and gifts. Joel Deschios had been chief executive since 2021 and an independent pro backed up the claims from whistleblower volunteer directors. He was suspended for seven months but still pocketed his full 87,500 pounds salary until he bounced in March. Deschios appealed the sacking but an independent panel shut that down quick. The directors also flagged a bullying vibe inside the org which runs on about 100 year round volunteers and just four paid staff. This mess sparked a nasty legal showdown in high court where Pride accused him of dragging his feet on the probe. Back in September 2025, a judge made him hand over company gear like bank access and laptops. He copped to one contempt charge but lawyers say properties still missing after seven months.

1:02Last week, the court warned if he doesn't file a defense in two weeks, Pride wins by default. They even had to rope in a former IT volunteer to regain system access since his logins weren't wiped. Pride's locking an interim chief for Becca Pisces to roll out tighter governance and this year's massive July 4th bash costing 1.3 million pounds backed by sponsors in 175,000 from the mayor's office rolls on as planned with 1000 on the day, volunteers.