Elisabeth Diana, head of communications at HR tech unicorn Deel, has left the company amid escalating controversy stemming from allegations of corporate espionage. Diana’s departure comes shortly after Deel faced accusations by competitor Rippling, which claims Deel planted an employee within its ranks to spy and steal trade secrets.
Rippling filed a dramatic lawsuit against Deel on March 17, alleging multiple offenses including violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, misappropriation of trade secrets, and unfair competition practices. Initially, Rippling didn’t disclose the identity of the purported undercover operative. However, on April 2, the company publicly identified Keith O’Brien as the former employee at the center of the espionage claims, releasing an affidavit signed by him that appeared to support Rippling’s allegations. His statement painted an extraordinary scene involving clandestine communications, a staged sting operation, and narratives of a smartphone being destroyed to conceal evidence.
Deel, last valued around $12.6 billion and backed by investors like Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, Spark Capital, and Y Combinator, had previously signaled intentions to enter the public markets. Now, the aftermath of Rippling’s accusations has significantly clouded that prospect. Deel has firmly contradicted Rippling’s claims, denying all allegations and suggesting that the lawsuit is part of an effort by Rippling to deflect from its own controversy related to alleged violations of Russian sanctions regulations.
Diana joined Deel in November 2021 after holding senior communication roles at Instagram and Facebook. Deel has not provided any comments regarding Diana’s exit or publicly addressed further developments related to the ongoing litigation.
