Two former ilion execs are suing the networking distributor for more than £600,000 over wrongful dismissal.

Ex-CEO Serge van Gorkum and ex-operations director Minh Tran Chau claim their former employer promised them termination payments if ilion got taken over, IT trade mag CRN reports.

The two say they received letters on 10 February stating: "The Ilion Group has been through a difficult period. We appreciate your commitment and hard work in this time. In recognition of this and also in consideration of your commitment to the future of ilion, we propose to offer financial protection in the event of either a takeover of Ilion Group or a disposal of the subsidiary for which you work."

But they claim ilion did not honour the agreements, and kicked them out on their ear without notice just days after the company got bought by Landis.

They have taken their legal wrangle to the High Court, with Van Gorkum seeking payment of £326,000 and damages, and Tran Chau £330,000, plus damages and a declaration over his right to share options.

According to CRN, Taylor Joynson Garrett, ilion's solicitor, wrote to the former directors saying they had lost their jobs due to refusing to comply with "a reasonable direction" to answer questions in two letters. The men claim they were not obliged to comply with requests that had not been lawfully issued following a board meeting. ®