Ex-S4C boss claims safeguarding failures in High Court case

A former senior manager at a publicly-funded broadcaster has accused her former employer of failing to safeguard her health, safety and wellbeing.

Amanda Rees, 55, has lodged a High Court claim against S4C - the third former executive to do so in the past two years.

Former chief executive Sian Doyle recently settled her personal injury claim against the Welsh-language broadcaster and its former chairman Rhodri Williams.

S4C's former chief content officer Llinos Griffin-Williams also has a legal claim lodged against the channel.

S4C has declined to comment.

Griffin-Williams was dismissed for gross misconduct after allegedly being drunk and verbally abusing former Wales scrum half Mike Phillips at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

She denies the accusations.

Newyddion S4C understands a settlement is also close to being agreed in that High Court case.

In a lengthy statement from Rees's legal representatives Irwin Mitchell, it is alleged that S4C's board and senior management team "failed to offer appropriate oversight of an [organisational change] process that was conducted inappropriately and excessively robustly".

Lawyers claim S4C was a "toxic" workplace culture where "bullying took place under the guise of a process of organisational change".

Former CEO Sian Doyle was sacked from her £162,000-a-year role in November 2023 after being accused of being "dictatorial" and "creating a culture of fear".

Doyle said at the time she did not "recognise or accept the allegations".

Irwin Mitchell says Rees "suffered prolonged psychological distress" and "stress-induced heart failure which required hospital treatment and ongoing medication".

Her lawyers claim Rees, who was employed by S4C as director of content before later becoming director of platforms, raised concerns about management style on multiple occasions. She resigned from her post in October 2023.

Rees was unavailable for interview but is quoted in the statement through her lawyers as saying: "I loved my work and I cared deeply about S4C, its purpose and the people I worked with.

"Over time however, I could see that its public service values were being eroded, the working environment became frightening and unsafe. I felt powerless to stop what was happening. I felt repeatedly undermined and humiliated, while trying to continue in a senior role with responsibility for the wellbeing of others.

"The stress built up and affected me deeply. I went from being confident and passionate about my career to feeling anxious, fearful and unwell. I suffered severe heart failure as a direct result – a life-changing event which has left me with ongoing anxiety and trauma-related symptoms. The impact on my health and my career has been profound and is something I continue to live with."

She said bringing legal action wasn't taken lightly and she had formally raised concerns with S4C through her solicitors in January 2025 but the board and senior leaders did not acknowledge the harm caused.

"I've taken this step because I feel these issues need to be properly highlighted and we should not allow the truth about what happened to go unheard," said Rees's statement.

"I don't believe an organisation can implement meaningful, positive change without being fully cognisant and accountable for its past mistakes."