Zabelin’s journey with SPI Spirits (UK) Ltd., a subsidiary of the Stolichnaya vodka manufacturer, started in 2017 as the director of mergers and acquisitions, eventually elevating to the position of group chief investment officer in January 2020.
According to a 2021 judgment, Zabelin received a base annual salary of £180,000 plus performance-based bonuses of up to 100% of that amount. In 2017 and 2018, he received bonuses of £150,000 and £180,000, respectively.
As the pandemic wreaked havoc, Zabelin agreed to a 30% pay reduction for three months starting in March 2020, only to discover that this reduction would continue until at least September. In protest, he voiced his concerns about the unfairness of the decision, believing that the company was exploiting the pandemic to cut salaries.
Days after reiterating his complaint and raising concerns about the impact on fellow employees, Zabelin was abruptly terminated by Shefler, setting the stage for a protracted legal battle.
Stoli Group Fights Former Exec’s £1.6M Whistblowing Win : The Hefty Award
In a landmark ruling in 2021, the Employment Tribunal ordered SPI and Shefler to compensate Zabelin with a staggering £1.6 million, covering lost earnings and bonuses he would have received over three years had he not been dismissed. Additionally, smaller sums were awarded for injury to feelings and unfair dismissal.
