Phoenix Suns employee resigns, citing retaliation after reporting concerns about toxic and misogynistic culture

A longtime Phoenix Suns employee resigned from the team last month, alleging she became the target of bullying and retaliation by superiors after raising concerns about gender equity and misconduct within the organization, documents obtained by ESPN show.

Melissa Fender Panagiotakopoulos, who began working for the Suns in August 2007, sent a resignation email on May 20 to 16 members of the ownership group, including majority owner Robert Sarver, challenging them to address what she said is a toxic and misogynistic workplace culture.

Her resignation came amid the NBA's investigation into Sarver and the Suns' workplace, which the league launched in November after ESPN published a story detailing allegations of racism and misogyny in a sometimes hostile and toxic workplace during Sarver's 17-year tenure as majority owner. Sarver has denied the majority of the allegations in ESPN's reporting.

In her resignation email, Panagiotakopoulos wrote that she was sending it to «key stakeholders» to «make certain this group can influence positive change.»

She did not specifically reference any issues with Sarver, or name any individual employee.

Panagiotakopoulos most recently held the title of senior premium experience manager, a position responsible for helping to generate revenue from high-level clients. She held that position from April 2014 until her resignation.

In the email, which was also sent to the Suns' head of human resources, Panagiotakopoulos offered a list of allegations, saying that «each of these points create the culture and make up the character of our leadership.»

She alleged that there were «inherent conflicts of interest with managers' ability to receive commissions, cherry pick deals, revise suite lease terms to