Facing charges, Chariot MD resigns

Stuart Corner
Thursday, 03 August 2006 16:00

IT Industry - Strategy

Robert Horlin-Smith, managing director of beleaguered ISP and would-be VoIP provider, Chariot, has resigned following the company's announcement that he is to face charges over alleged misconduct while he was secretary of another company before joining Chariot.
He will, however remain on the board of the company and will consult to Chariot for an initial period of six months. The company's finance director, Gerry Hersey has been appointed CEO.

Horlin-Smith will stand trial on charges, brought by ASIC, of misconduct while he was secretary of Normans Wines in the 1990s.

He, and Chariot, are also facing a legal challenge from the Transcom International with which Chariot formed a partnership in late 1984 to offer VoIP services. That never happened and Chariot is now going it alone. H

Chariot announced to the ASX  on 5 July that it was facing a claim from Transcom for alleged breach of contract and that two of its directors, Peter Buttery and Horlin-Smith were also facing claims for pecuniary damages.

Since then there have been conflicting claims by Transcom and Chariot about the two year history of their relationship. Transcom has accused Chariot of not making full disclosure to the ASX and has called on the ASX to investigate.  Chariot has denied all the allegations.