‘Condescending’ Meghan Markle Faces Challenges Hiring CEO For New Luxury Brand After 18 Staff Resignations

Meghan Markle’s lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, has reportedly encountered difficulties in its search to appoint a CEO. Concerns have risen after a former employee claimed Markle was “condescending,” “unbearable” and “talk[s] down to people.”

This comes after reports that 18 people resigned from their roles at American Riviera Orchard.

Former employees claimed that Markle and Prince Harry are demanding and challenging to work with. 

Markle gained attention in April when she sent jars of strawberry jam to celebrities to create buzz around her brand, but since she teased the brand’s launch in March, she has only distributed a small batch of 50 jars of branded jam to friends and prominent influencers. She additionally introduced dog biscuits and hinted at a forthcoming rose wine line.

Reports suggested that Markle aimed to generate a significant seven-figure income within her brand’s first year.

The challenges faced by American Riviera Orchard follow the resignation of the couple’s chief of staff, Josh Kettler, who left after only three months in the role. Kettler had previously played significant roles in the coordination and logistics of multiple of the prince’s out-of-country trips, and his appointment was seen as a strategic move on Harry’s point.

Markle was in the news last week when her major policy speech in Colombia was interrupted by a trans-rights protester.