Tony Danker CBI Stock video
The Scotsman
2023-04-11
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Tony Danker CBI at a recent event in Glasgow.
The boss of one of the UK's largest business groups has been fired over complaints about his behaviour at work.
Tony Danker, who will leave the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) following an investigation over his conduct towards several employees, said he was "shocked" by the sacking.
Three other CBI employees have also been suspended "pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations", the group said.
It is also liaising with the police.
Mr Danker stepped aside in March after the CBI hired law firm Fox Williams to investigate several complaints about him. These included a complaint from a female employee in January and complaints from other members of staff which surfaced in March.
Mr Danker, who was paid £376,000 by the CBI in 2021, has been dismissed with immediate effect with no severance pay.
Mr Danker tweeted on Tuesday: "I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office. I was appalled to learn about them for the first time last week.
"I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed. Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but 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The findings of the investigation into him for now remain unpublished.
Business group postpones events after new claims
Business group boss steps aside after misconduct claims
Last week, the Guardian newspaper reported sexual misconduct claims against CBI employees, including an allegation of rape at a summer boat party in 2019.
Many of the most serious allegations predate Mr Danker's time as director-general.
In its statement on Tuesday, the CBI said: "Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him.
"The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director-general."
The scandals have left the CBI facing its biggest crisis since it was founded in 1965.
Some company executives who are members of the group have described it as an existential crisis for an organisation that represents the interests of some 190,000 businesses across the UK.
The lobby group has already postponed its public events and asked Fox Williams to conduct a separate investigation to the one into Mr Danker.
'Serious failings'
A Downing Street spokesman said the government would keep its engagement with the CBI on hold while the group continued its investigation, adding: "We continue to expect any allegations to be taken seriously and for appropri
The boss of one of the UK's largest business groups has been fired over complaints about his behaviour at work.
Tony Danker, who will leave the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) following an investigation over his conduct towards several employees, said he was "shocked" by the sacking.
Three other CBI employees have also been suspended "pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations", the group said.
It is also liaising with the police.
Mr Danker stepped aside in March after the CBI hired law firm Fox Williams to investigate several complaints about him. These included a complaint from a female employee in January and complaints from other members of staff which surfaced in March.
Mr Danker, who was paid £376,000 by the CBI in 2021, has been dismissed with immediate effect with no severance pay.
Mr Danker tweeted on Tuesday: "I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office. I was appalled to learn about them for the first time last week.
"I was nevertheless shocked to learn this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, instead of being invited to put my position forward as was originally confirmed. Many of the allegations against me have been distorted, but 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 findings of the investigation into him for now remain unpublished.
Business group postpones events after new claims
Business group boss steps aside after misconduct claims
Last week, the Guardian newspaper reported sexual misconduct claims against CBI employees, including an allegation of rape at a summer boat party in 2019.
Many of the most serious allegations predate Mr Danker's time as director-general.
In its statement on Tuesday, the CBI said: "Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him.
"The board wishes to make clear he is not the subject of any of the more recent allegations in The Guardian but has determined that his own conduct fell short of that expected of the director-general."
The scandals have left the CBI facing its biggest crisis since it was founded in 1965.
Some company executives who are members of the group have described it as an existential crisis for an organisation that represents the interests of some 190,000 businesses across the UK.
The lobby group has already postponed its public events and asked Fox Williams to conduct a separate investigation to the one into Mr Danker.
'Serious failings'
A Downing Street spokesman said the government would keep its engagement with the CBI on hold while the group continued its investigation, adding: "We continue to expect any allegations to be taken seriously and for appropri
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