Napa Valley tourism executive Linsey Gallagher is accused of creating a 'culture of fear' in explosive letter

Napa Valley's tourism chief is at war with her own staff who have accused her of fostering a 'pervasive culture of fear' at the heart of America's wine industry.

Linsey Gallagher was cleared by a 'neutral' investigation earlier this year after claims emerged she made 'disparaging and demeaning remarks' to employees and misallocated public funds at Visit Napa Valley.

She reportedly used phrases such as: 'I'm the only reason you have this job in the first place,' and 'it's not like you were groped or sexually assaulted.' 

Now 10 anonymous staffers have written an anonymous letter seen by the SF Chronicle, claiming that the investigation was 'gravely mishandled' and that Gallagher singled them out for retribution after she was cleared.

Gallagher was appointed president and CEO of the tourist bureau in 2019, overseeing a $2.2 billion industry that brings nearly four million people a year to the Californian county. 

In a 2022 interview she advised young women in her industry to 'work hard, be nice, have courage to walk through the doors that open for you, find role models along the way'.

'I have reached the phase in my career where nurturing, mentoring, developing and supporting others is the priority,' she said.

But the organization's executive board launched a probe in May after five current and two former employees accused her of being drunk on power.

Three other staffers added their names to the complaint and chairwoman Emma Swain insisted the board 'took the claims seriously' before commissioning a 'neutral third party' to investigate.

It found 'no evidence that in any way supports the workplace bullying or financial impropriety allegations', but the staffers claim the probe was botched and that their complaints were 'inadequately addressed'.

Earlier this week they sent a four-page letter to the board, copying in the Napa Valley Tourism Corporation and the SF Chronicle.

It repeated the allegations of abuse and accused Gallagher of a 'pattern of deception' in her handling of public funds from Napa County's Tourism Improvement District.

It also claims that Gallagher kept staff and board members 'in the dark' about spending decisions, 'manipulates narratives' and 'provides false information'.

The letter alleged that around 40 employees have quit or been fired since she was appointed, and that three resigned when she was cleared by the inquiry, with others now 'actively seeking alternative job opportunities'.

Swain dismissed the claims of financial allegations as 'categorically false', insisting that all bosses were subjected to an extensive audit to reviews their expenditures last year.

'The financial allegations were made after the annual audit was completed, and the independent investigator has confirmed no evidence of wrongdoing,' she told the Chronical.

And she said that 28 of the job losses were due to cuts that were forced on the organization by the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The complainants are refusing to let the matter lie but Swain said she would not respond to them unless they go on the record.

'We are not going to have a discussion of personnel matters with an anonymous party,' she added.

'We have addressed all these issues by providing each employee complainant with a detailed summary of the investigator's findings in addition to an opportunity to meet with a board member to discuss.

'Only a few of the employees took us up on the opportunity.'

Dailymail.com has reached out to Gallagher for comment.