Mars’ Data Theft Claims Against Former CFO Head to Arbitration

Mars Inc.'s dispute with a former executive over his alleged theft of financial data and proprietary information will shift into arbitration, a federal court in Washington decided.

Jacek Szarzynski, a former chief financial officer, allegedly took Mars’ confidential information during his transition from the company to his future employer. He had a mandatory arbitration clause in his employment contract, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia said Tuesday in granting his motion to dismiss the claims against him in favor of arbitration.

Mars said its incentive agreements with Szarzynski, regarding an executive bonus program, showed the parties “expressly ...