Settlement Agreement

Summary

A request for information regarding the notice period, interview panel, and settlement agreement details for former CEO Andy Ralphs was partially fulfilled. The authority disclosed the interview panel members and a link for notice period regulations but withheld confirmation and value of any settlement agreement citing personal data exemptions.

Key Facts

• The interview panel for Andy Ralphs' appointment included Hon Alfred Cannan, Hon Kate Lord-Brennan, Hon Jane Poole-Wilson, and Hon Juan Watterson.
• Information regarding the existence and value of a settlement agreement with Andy Ralphs was neither confirmed nor denied.
• The notice period for CEO grade is accessible via the Isle of Man Government HR website.
• The Public Services Commission cited Section 25(2) of the FOI Act to withhold personal information about the settlement.
• The response was issued on 7 May 2025 regarding a request received on 11 April 2025.

Data Disclosed

• 2025-04-11
• 2025-05-07
• 31 March 2025
• Section 20
• Section 25(2)
• Article 5
• Article 6
• 4583197

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 (accessible by other means)
• Section 25(2) (absolutely exempt personal information)
• Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018

Original Request

Dear Public Services Commission, Please may you provide me with the following information: 1. What is the notice period for a Chief Executive Officer grade within the Isle of Man Government? 2. Which MHKs were on the interview panel during the hiring process before former Chief Executive Officer of the Isle of Man Government Andy Ralphs' appointment? 3. Was a Settlement Agreement signed between the Public Services Commission and the former Chief Executive Officer of the Isle of Man Government Andy Ralphs ahead of - or on - his departure on 31 March 2025. 4. If a Settlement Agreement was signed, what is the value of agreement. 5. Under what circumstances can an officer with CEO seniority resign and not fulfil the notice period as set out in their contract? Thank-you.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Our ref: 4583197 7 May 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 11 April 2025, which states:

"Dear Public Services Commission,

Please may you provide me with the following information:

1. What is the notice period for a Chief Executive Officer grade within the Isle of Man Government?

2. Which MHKs were on the interview panel during the hiring process before former Chief Executive Officer of the Isle of Man Government Andy Ralphs' appointment?

3. Was a Settlement Agreement signed between the Public Services Commission and the former Chief Executive Officer of the Isle of Man Government Andy Ralphs ahead of - or on - his departure on 31 March 2025.

4. If a Settlement Agreement was signed, what is the value of agreement.

5. Under what circumstances can an officer with CEO seniority resign and not fulfil the notice period as set out in their contract?

Thank-you."

1. What is the notice period for a Chief Executive Officer grade within the Isle of Man Government?

Regarding part 1 of your request, this information is exempt from disclosure under
Section 20, accessible by other means. For ease of collecting this data, this information

can be found here - https://hr.gov.im/terms-conditions-for-employees/civil-service- regulations/section-a-conditions-of-service/notice/

1. Which MHKs were on the interview panel during the hiring process before former Chief Executive Officer of the Isle of Man Government Andy Ralphs' appointment?

Regarding part 2 of your request, the following MHKs were part of the interview panel during the hiring process before former Chief Executive Officer of the Isle of Man Government Andy Ralphs' appointment.

Hon Alfred Cannan MHK, Chief Minister
Hon Kate Lord-Brennan MHK as Chair of the PSC Hon Jane Poole-Wilson MHK, Deputy Chief Minister Hon Juan Watterson BA FCA CMgr FCMI SHK, Speaker of the House of Keys

1. Was a Settlement Agreement signed between the Public Services Commission and the former Chief Executive Officer of the Isle of Man Government Andy Ralphs ahead of - or on - his departure on 31 March 2025.

Regarding part 3 of your request, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, this information can neither be confirmed or denied. In this instance we are unable to provide any of the information you have requested because it is exempt under section 25(2) of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information).

The reasons why that exemption applies are that:

• The Public Services Commission is satisfied that the information of this nature would amount to personal data of which you would not be the data subject.

• The Public Services Commission is satisfied that disclosure of such information would contravene one of the data protection principles as set out at Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the Isle of Man pursuant to the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, namely that the Public Services Commission can only disclose the information where it would be fair, lawful and meet one of the conditions for lawful processing in Article 6 and in this case, none of those conditions have been met.

1. If a Settlement Agreement was signed, what is the value of agreement.

Regarding part 4 of your request, while our aim is to provide information whenever possible, this information can neither be confirmed or denied. In this instance we are unable to provide any of the information you have requested because it is exempt under section 25(2) of the Act (absolutely exempt personal information).

The reasons why that exemption applies are that:

• The Public Services Commission is satisfied that the information of this nature would amount to personal data of which you would not be the data subject.

• The Public Services Commission is satisfied that disclosure of such information would contravene one of the data protection principles as set out at Article 5 of the General Data Protection Regulation as it applies in the Isle of Man pursuant to the Data Protection (Application of GDPR) Order 2018, namely that the Public Services Commission can only disclose the information where it would be fair, lawful and meet one of the conditions for lawful processing in Article 6 and in this case, none of those conditions have been met.

1. Under what circumstances can an officer with CEO seniority resign and not fulfil the notice period as set out in their contract?

Regarding part 5 of your request, the decision for any officer, regardless of grade and including the CEO seniority to resign without fulfilling their contractual notice period is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Reasons for such a decision varies, and may include personal issues preventing an employee from continuing their duties, a breach of contract, legal or ethical concerns, or a mutual agreement to part ways.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im.

Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.