The chief executive of one of the UK’s largest business organisations, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Tony Danker, has been sacked over complaints about “inappropriate conduct” with an employee.
Three other CBI employees were also suspended “pending further investigation into a series of ongoing allegations,” the business group said.
He also added that he “is in contact with the police” and that he would “fully cooperate with any police investigation.”
Danker had stepped down in March after the CBI hired the Fox Williams law firm to investigate his conduct.
According to those close to him, Danker was surprised by the CBI’s decision to fire him with immediate effect and without a redundancy package.
Danker, who became CEO of the business group in November 2020, previously apologized for any “offense or anxiety” he caused, saying it was “completely unintentional.”
Last week, The Guardian newspaper reported allegations of sexual misconduct against CBI employees, including an allegation of rape at a boat party in the summer of 2019.
Many of the more serious allegations predate Danker’s time as CEO.
In its statement on Tuesday, the CBI said that “Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific workplace misconduct complaints against him.
The board of directors clarified that “Danker is not the subject of any of the most recent allegations in The Guardian, but has determined that his own conduct did not measure up to what was expected of the CEO.”
The CBI said there were “serious flaws” in the way Danker handled allegations of sexual misconduct and that it would now begin a “root and branch review” into his culture of governance.
“It is already clear to all of us that there have been serious flaws in the way we have acted as an organization. We must do better and we must be better,” the board added.
Danker has been replaced as CEO by Rain Newton-Smith, a former CBI chief economist, who is the second woman to lead the group after Carolyn Fairbairn, who stepped down in 2020.
In an early fallout from the scandal, the chief executive of beer company Adnams said he had been in talks with his leadership team about leaving the group after the scandals.
Also the Marks and Spencer group of stores said it had written to the CBI’s acting director general to “seek reassurance”, while Rolls-Royce said the recent claims were “deeply concerning”.
The CBI represents over 190,000 businesses and lobby politicians for policies that benefit UK business.
It also regularly hosts events for business leaders to meet and share ideas on politics and economics, in addition to offering research and consulting services for its members.
The findings of the investigation into Danker remain under wraps for now and several government agencies have suspended their relations with the CBI.
(With agency information)
