Cotton and Moulding Engage in Social Media Clash
Company - People | Jun 18, 2025 | Business Cloud
A social media dispute between former NCC Group CEO Rob Cotton and THG founder Matt Moulding has surfaced, fueled by a BusinessCloud article on CEO pay. Cotton criticized Moulding for the sharp fall in THG’s share price post-IPO, while Moulding defended his position and counter-criticized Cotton's past at NCC. The debate highlights the personal and business dynamics affecting THG's financial decline and contrasts in executive pay in the retail sector.
Sectors
- Cyber Security
- E-Commerce & Retail
- Corporate Governance
Geography
- United Kingdom – Both NCC Group and THG are headquartered in the UK, and the article discusses UK-based CEOs and companies.
- Manchester – Rob Cotton's former company, NCC Group, and Matt Moulding's THG are based in Manchester.
Industry
- Cyber Security – Rob Cotton was the former CEO of NCC Group, a cyber security company headquartered in Manchester.
- E-Commerce & Retail – THG (The Hut Group) operates within the online retail and e-commerce sector.
- Corporate Governance – The article discusses issues related to executive pay and company share performance, relevant topics in corporate governance.
Financials
- 5.4 billion – THG's IPO valuation in 2020.
- 358 million – THG's current market capitalization.
- 32,000 – Matt Moulding's reported salary for THG.
- 573 million – Matt Moulding's estimated personal fortune.
- 399,600 – Total salary, pension, and car allowance payments Rob Cotton received during gardening leave.
- 726,972 – Salary waived by Matt Moulding.
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rob Cotton | Former CEO | People | Former CEO of NCC Group with a career break claiming to be an investor, coach, and consultant. |
| Matthew Moulding | CEO | People | Founder and CEO of THG, known for waiving a significant part of his salary. |
| NCC Group | Former Employer | Companies | A Manchester-based cyber security group where Cotton served as CEO. |
| THG (The Hut Group) | Target Company | Companies | An e-commerce company experiencing a decline in stock value post-IPO. |
| BusinessCloud | Media Source | Companies | Published the article triggering the social media dispute. |