BrewDog boss hired private investigators to gather evidence of alleged smear campaign

In June last year, BrewDog apologised to former employees who accused the company and Watt in an open letter of fostering a ‘culture of fear’. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Reuters

The boss of BrewDog, James Watt, hired private investigators to obtain information about people he believed were taking part in a smear campaign against him and repeatedly accused one woman of being involved until she blocked him on social media.

According to multiple sources and evidence seen by the Guardian, private investigators who said they were working for Watt approached people to gather evidence about those who he appeared to believe had maligned him.