Food startup Hampton Creek fires three executives amid claims of planned coup

Chief technology officer among those accused of trying to push out co-founder and give investors control of company behind Just Mayo eggless mayonnaise

The billion-dollar Silicon Valley food startup Hampton Creek fired three of its top employees on Monday amid accusations they were engaged in a coup meant to take control from its co-founder and hand it to investors.

The company behind the popular Just Mayo eggless mayonnaise spread and other products wrote to staff Monday to inform them that Jim Flatt, the chief technology officer; Lee Chae, vice-president of research and development; and Sofia Elizondo, vice-president of business development, were out after an internal investigation. There is no suggestion that any of the individuals were doing anything illegal.