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Dog-kicking catering CEO to be ousted

Centerplate boss was caught on camera hoisting small Doberman by leash

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[Update: It's official, dog-kicking CEO of Centerplate is out]

Stadiums and other venues that employ Centerplate for food and beverage concessions have been informed that the ouster of the company’s CEO will be announced on Tuesday.

Desmond Hague, CEO of the Connecticut company, was caught on an elevator surveillance camera in Vancouver in late July, kicking and choking a small dog. The video sparked outrage across the nation with the caterer’s customers, including those at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium.

Centerplate chief operating officer Chris Verros, who has 35 years in the food-services industry, is to be named acting CEO.

WATCHDOG

The announcement of Hague's resignation will close a tumultuous 10 days for the CEO and the multibillion-dollar company he has managed since 2009.

In a draft news release obtained by U-T Watchdog, Joe O’Donnell, chairman of the board of directors for Centerplate, reiterated that the company did not condone Hague's misconduct.

“Following an extended review of the incident involving Mr. Hague, I’d like to apologize for the distress that this situation has caused to so many; but also thank our employees, clients and guests who expressed their feelings about this incident," the draft release says. "Their voices helped us to frame our deliberations during this very unusual and unfortunate set of circumstances.”

Hague was seen kicking the year-old Doberman pinscher repeatedly and jerking the leash hard enough to lift the animal off the floor of the elevator.

An employee of the Private Residences at the Hotel Georgia in Vancouver was upset with what was shown on the tape and provided a copy to the British Columbia office of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and to news outlets in British Columbia the week before last.

U-T Watchdog reported the incident Aug. 25, in an account that was then picked up across the U.S.

Centerplate provides food and beverage service to scores of North American sports and entertainment venues, including the city-owned Qualcomm Stadium and the San Diego Convention Center.

Food industry sources said Hague is an accomplished executive who simply had a bad evening.

“This is totally out of his character,” said one source, who confirmed news of Hague’s impending departure but declined to be named because he was not authorized to release the news. “This is a guy who works 18 hours a day, seven days a week.”

The source said Hague had been at a reception in late July and was taking the dog – named Sade – out for a walk after several cocktails. Apparently the leash caught in his hand as Sade tried to run ahead and Hague became angry when he hurt his fingers while trying to control the animal.

The Vancouver SPCA already finished its investigation and told the Watchdog last week that it referred the case to British Columbia prosecutors with a recommendation for criminal charges.

Any decision about criminal charges is still some weeks away, the SPCA told the Watchdog.

In the immediate hours following release of the video, fans began a boycott of Centerplate products at venues where it sells food and beverages.

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer later announced he would review the city’s contract with Centerplate, a $17 million deal that expires in February.

“Mr. Hague’s actions in the videotape are disturbing. They don’t reflect the values held by San Diegans or the values held by the hundreds of local Centerplate employees working in San Diego,” the statement said. “The city intends to review the contract with the City Attorney’s Office to consider all options.”

Sources told the Watchdog on Monday that the decision to release Hague came as National Football League team owners, stadium executives and other entertainment industry officials wrestled with how to handle the public-relations crisis.

Centerplate initially issued a statement saying Hague would enter counseling to deal with anger-management issues.

Then the company issued a second statement saying the board of directors had directed Hague to perform 1,000 hours of community service and donate $100,000 to a charity to be called the Sade Foundation, a group that would work to reduce animal cruelty.

Nothing seemed to quell the anger, however.

At the Charges games last Thursday, numerous fans told the Watchdog that they no longer would buy food or drinks at the stadium because of what they had seen Hague do to his dog.

“It’s animal cruelty,” said Ephraim Garcia of Escondido. “I think they should take the contract away.”

Demands for Hague’s termination also roared across social media, contributing to the decision during the long holiday weekend. More than 181,000 people signed an online petition urging the company to fire the CEO.

“Between social media and the Internet, no one in crisis management is suited to deal with this,” the food-industry source said Monday. “It was inevitable.”

Hague arrived at Centerplate in 2009, and is widely credited with doubling the company’s revenue and at the same time reducing expenses.

It was not clear Monday if Hague planned to proceed with the therapy, community service and foundation that the company said he would form to reduce animal cruelty.

Watchdog

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