Vietnam Court Orders Cinema chain to Compensate British Executive

Photo courtesy of VN Express

Vietnam's largest cinema chain, CJ CGV, has been ordered by a Ho Chi Minh City court to pay over VND3.8 billion ($144,000) to British executive Benedict Daniel Sullivan. The ruling comes after a prolonged legal conflict regarding Sullivan's demotion and subsequent firing, which the court deemed unlawful. This verdict overturns a previous decision that dismissed Sullivan's claims.

Get today's headlines by email

Sullivan began working for CJ CGV's Vietnam cinema system in 2012, later signing a contract as the Sales and Marketing Director, earning $4,000 monthly with additional commissions. In 2014, the company's CEO reassigned him to a lower position, which Sullivan argued was a ploy to avoid paying commissions on his secured contracts. Despite a formal resignation from his director role, Sullivan was dismissed without proper termination notice, leading him to file a lawsuit in 2015.

The case was stagnated for years and initially ruled in favor of CJ CGV in 2023. Sullivan appealed, and in 2024, the HCMC High People's Court found flaws in the initial trial, concluding that CJ CGV had unlawfully dismissed Sullivan. The retrial resulted in the order for compensation, covering unpaid commissions and other losses suffered by Sullivan.

Looking forward, this ruling could set a precedent for labor rights in Vietnam, particularly regarding foreign executives. The decision emphasizes the importance of adhering to contractual obligations and fair treatment under Vietnamese labor laws, reported VN Express.

Join the discussion?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · VN Express · 26 Mar 2026