Vape maker Chill Brands suspends chief executive

April 23, 2024

Callum Sommerton

Vape maker Chill Brands on Monday said it has suspended chief executive Callum Sommerton after allegations were raised around the company’s use of inside information.

The company has appointed law firm Fieldfisher to conduct an investigation into the allegations.

Sommerton said he was ‘surprised and disappointed’ by the allegations, which he termed as ‘without merit’.

“I am confident that I will be vindicated. I will avoid further comment at this time to allow the process to progress,” he said.

Chill Brands, which sells nicotine-free vape products in the UK and the US, assured vendors, customers and shareholders that the company continues to operate as normal.

It added that it will be engaging with relevant authorities, including the Financial Conduct Authority, and the investigation’s findings will be reported in due course.

Sommerton, previously international brand director for the company, has been appointed as chief executive in April 2022.

The process of appointing an interim chief executive is underway.

By Kiran Paul

With a background that spans both the agility of startup environments and the established presence of Asian Media Group, Kiran tries to bring a well-rounded perspective to his work. His career as a journalist began at a dynamic news startup, where he honed his reporting and storytelling skills for five years, gaining valuable experience in a fast-paced and evolving media landscape. Since 2018, he has been contributing to Asian Trader, where a standout feature of his work has been his in-depth interviews with award-winning retailers, which he transforms into insightful profiles that appear in each issue. Since 2021, he has also been at the helm of the sister title, Vape Business.

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