CBI boss Tony Danker sacked after sexual harassment workplace claims
THE boss of the UK's largest business group has been sacked over workplace sexual harassment claims.
Tony Danker will quit the CBI with immediate effect after a sleaze probe, and Rain Newton-Smith will replace him.
Three other CBI employees have been suspended pending more investigations.
The CBI is liaising with the police and has made clear its intention to cooperate fully with any police investigations.
The under-fire business group were forced to cancel all its events last week after a string of misconduct allegations.
Allegations of sexual assault and rape have forced the Confederation of British Industry, which represents 190,000 businesses, to act.
It has even scrubbed next month’s annual dinner, which would have been attended by the Governor of the Bank of England Andrew Bailey.
Mr Danker previously said his conduct was “completely unintentional” but he was forced to step down.
He said today he was "appalled to learn" about the allegations for the first time last week and he was "shocked to learn" he had been sacked "instead of being invited to put my position forward".
And he claimed many of the allegations against him had been "distorted" but added: "I recognise that I unintentionally made a number of colleagues feel uncomfortable and I am truly sorry about that. I want to wish my former CBI colleagues every success."
The CBI said today the allegations were "devastating" and admitted there has been "serious failings" in the organisation, adding: "we must do better and we must be better."
They said in a statement: "We apologise to the victims of this organisational failure, including those impacted by the revulsion we have all felt at hearing their stories. Nobody should feel unsafe in their workplace.
"We wish to thank all those who have had the courage to speak out, through internal or external channels, and encourage them to keep doing so."
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More than a dozen women alleged sexual misconduct by senior CBI staff.
One claimed she was raped at a staff party on a boat on the Thames in 2019.
The Government gave the business group the cold shoulder following the sleaze scandal.
The CBI provides a voice for up to 190,000 businesses but industry leaders believe the scandal puts its future in doubt — saying its toxic culture would likely dent British business relationships.