A MAN who founded a public relations firm 25 years ago and helped develop it into a regional business ended up being sued for poaching staff and clients by the very company that bears his name.

Now, Michael De Kretser the firm has won the lawsuit against Michael De Kretser the man.

Last week, the High Court ruled in favour of Michael De Kretser Consultants (MDK), which had sued Mr De Kretser, as well as the firm's chief executive officer Michael Rose, for breaching their duties to the company.

Mr Rose, a Briton, was also sued for breaching his employment contract.

The damages that both have to pay will be assessed at a later date.

MDK is one of a group of three companies providing public relations services. It is now in liquidation. The other two firms serve the Malaysian and Thai markets.

Mr De Kretser, an Australian, was the group's CEO and a director and shareholder of MDK. He held a one-third share in the Singapore firm after selling the majority stake to advertising giant Batey.

In 2006, MDK, represented by Rajah & Tann, sued Mr De Kretser and Mr Rose. It claimed the duo began plotting around November 2005 to set up a rival company called DPR Consultants to woo clients and staff away from MDK.

Mr Rose resigned in February 2006. He submitted his notice to Mr De Kretser in November 2005 but MDK's board was not informed.

Mr De Kretser and Mr Rose denied they had plotted to start a rival firm while employed by MDK.

Mr De Kretser claimed he was being made a scapegoat for the politics between Batey and its Britain-based majority shareholders.

Justice Choo Han Teck felt otherwise. According to his decision, between November 2005 and February 2006, the duo recruited staff for DPR while holding key positions in MDK.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on May 14, 2008