McGriff suing former VP, charging violation of noncompete

McGriff Insurance Services LLC is suing a former vice president who it is charging with sending confidential information to his new employer before leaving for the competitor and soliciting McGriff employees and clients in violation of his employment agreement.

The lawsuit, McGriff Insurance Services LLC v. Christopher Wilson, was filed in North Carolina state court March 7, before being transferred to U.S. District Court in Greensboro, North Carolina, last week.

Raleigh, North Carolina-based McGriff charged in its lawsuit that the month before leaving to become vice president and partner at Macon, Georgia-based Sanford Insurance LLC in November 2022, he sent a 47-page confidential management package of reports containing detailed financial and performance data on the company’s retail division to his wife’s personal email account.

The lawsuit charged that during and after his employment at McGriff he attempted to recruit McGriff employees to his new firm, in violation of his January 2010 employment agreement with what was then BB&T Insurance Services Inc.

It states in the month following his departure from McGriff, the company received notice from 12 McGriff accounts that were serviced by Mr. Wilson indicating they were ending their relationship with the broker and moving to Sanford.

Charges in the complaint include breach of contract, solicitation of customers and confidentiality; breach of duty and loyalty; misappropriation of trade secrets; and unfair and deceptive trade practices.

The complaint states that, writing on behalf of both Sanford and Mr. Wilson, counsel has dismissed McGriff’s claims, denying any evidence of wrongdoing. 

Mr. Wilson and his attorney did not respond to queries.