CEO of Pride in London Dismissed Amid Allegations of Misuse
The chief executive of Pride in London, one of the largest pride events globally, has been dismissed following accusations that he used thousands of pounds worth of vouchers, intended for volunteers, for personal purchases.
Christopher Joell-Deshields, who denies these allegations, was suspended from his role as chief executive in September last year after concerns about his conduct emerged.
According to , Joell-Deshields received his full annual salary of £87,500 during his seven-month suspension until his departure in March.
The 55-year-old is currently involved in an ongoing legal dispute with Pride in London, accused of attempting to obstruct the investigation into his conduct.
Joell-Deshields has been contacted for comment.
Allegations of Misuse of Vouchers and Workplace Culture
A group of volunteer directors from London LGBT Community Pride, the community interest company responsible for parts of the annual pride event in London, accused Joell-Deshields of spending £7,000 worth of vouchers donated by a sponsor.
The vouchers were reportedly intended as raffle prizes and gifts for volunteers, but the directors claim Joell-Deshields used them to purchase luxury perfumes and Apple products.
In a whistleblowing disclosure, the volunteer directors also alleged the existence of a "bullying culture" within Pride in London.
Investigation and Dismissal
Following an independent investigation into these allegations, Pride in London announced on Tuesday that Joell-Deshields had been dismissed. He had served as chief executive since 2021.
Joell-Deshields appealed the dismissal, but the decision was upheld by an independent council, according to the organisation.
Pride in London, which has approximately 100 year-round volunteers and four paid staff members, stated that its interim chief executive, Rebecca Paisis, will be "implementing a new governance structure to ensure Pride in London operates at the highest standards."
Upcoming Event and Funding
This year’s Pride celebration is scheduled for 4 July, with sources within the organisation confirming to that the event will proceed "as usual."
The event costs around £1.3 million annually to organise and depends on approximately 1,000 volunteers on the day. It is primarily funded by corporate sponsors and receives about £175,000 annually from the Greater London Authority (GLA), through the Mayor of London's office.
Legal Proceedings and Court Orders
Leaders of London’s Pride event hope that Joell-Deshields’s dismissal will help stabilise the organisation after a challenging period.
The investigation into Joell-Deshields has also led to legal proceedings in the High Court, which are expected to conclude in the coming weeks.
In September 2025, a High Court judge ordered Joell-Deshields to relinquish control of Pride in London’s property, including bank accounts, internal systems, and equipment.
In January 2026, he appeared in court facing two charges of contempt for failing to comply with this order. Lawyers for Pride in London argued this was an attempt to "frustrate" the independent investigation into his conduct.
Joell-Deshields’s representatives stated in court that he had not returned a company laptop because it was purchased for him by the organisation after his personal device was damaged during work.
He admitted the second contempt charge for failing to provide a signed statement confirming the return of all company property.
Last week, Pride in London’s lawyers returned to court alleging that company property had still not been returned after seven months and that Joell-Deshields had failed to file a defence in the case.
Deputy High Court Judge Matthew Butt KC issued an order stating the court will rule in Pride in London’s favour if Joell-Deshields does not file a defence within two weeks.
During the September proceedings, Joell-Deshields’s representatives said his agreement to comply with any court order regarding the return of company property was not an admission of guilt.
Restoration of Access to Systems
understands that Pride in London’s directors eventually regained access to internal systems and accounts by contacting a former volunteer in the IT department whose login credentials had not been properly deactivated, allowing them to restore access.
has reached out to Joell-Deshields for comment.
