Mark Pogachefsky has been planning to retire — but not like this.
The veteran indie film publicist, and president of MPRM Communications, was working on a deal to sell the company to its senior leaders. But when that fell through — he believed they were lowballing him — he started looking around for other offers.
Those plans got thrown for a loop last week, when his entire leadership team left for 42West, taking many of the firm’s clients with them, including Disney, NBC and National Geographic.
Pogachefsky is now suing 42West and his former employees, accusing them of crippling his company and scuttling his talks to sell the firm.
In a complaint filed on Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court, MPRM alleged that Sylvia Desrochers and other ex-employees plotted to steal away clients while they were still working for the company.
“Defendants’ strategy in raiding MPRM’s employees and customers and using MPRM’s trade secrets and/or proprietary and confidential information was malicious and was meant to cripple MPRM, which is a direct competitor of 42West,” the suit alleges.
Earlier this year, Pogachefsky engaged in negotiations with Desrochers and Caitlin McGee Swartz, both executive VPs, over their option to purchase the firm. In June, however, he rejected their best offer, saying it amounted to just 10% of the true value of the company.
“He further explained that MPRM was set up for continued success with the likelihood of significant increased cashflow in the future,” the lawsuit states. “He made it clear that he was willing to accept a real offer from Ms. McGee and Ms. Desrochers and he would put his retirement on hold until something could be worked out.”
At that point, according to the suit, he began soliciting other offers, and “was able to secure serious interest from numerous potential buyers.”
Last Monday, however, the VPs and five other employees announced they were leaving immediately to go work for 42West.
“Mr. Pogachefsky was shocked, not just because the Former MPRM Employees provided no notice of their separation, but because it was apparent that their leaving MPRM was hostile, had been in the works for quite some time, and would wreak havoc on MPRM and its existing clients by depriving it of key personnel,” the suit states.
Two days later, Desrochers emailed to say that six major clients would be leaving with them, the suit states.
The suit includes claims of breach of loyalty, interference with contract, and unfair business practices. 42West did not immediately return a request for comment.
