Hands' representatives denied he had a tendency to talk about sex or books about sex. Read our full story online and in print @financialtimes.com today. My DMs are open or [email protected]. Thanks to superstar Caroline Binham and tireless @mattvella.bsky.social, plus wider FT team. 4/4

Several staff said Hands’ commented on the size of women’s breasts. Another said he told a story about a business associate masturbating in the bath. They said he was volatile & unchallenged; “charming and charismatic” one moment, “harsh [and] domineering” the next. 3/4

We spoke to 25 former employees and business associates who worked with Hands between 2002 and 2023. Together, they said he was a bully who raged and screamed at staff, humiliated underlings, and made sexually explicit comments. Hands and Terra Firma deny the allegations. 2/4