Chief of scandal-hit CBI sacked over 'workplace misconduct with female employee'
The boss of one of the UK's largest business groups has been sacked over allegations of workplace misconduct.
The Confederation of British Industry has dismissed director-general Tony Danker after an independent investigation into the complaints involving a female employee.
Danker will leave his post with immediate effect and be replaced by Rain Newton-Smith.
The 51-year-old businessman has said that he is “shocked” that he was dismissed from the role “instead of being invited to put my position forward”.
Three other employees have also been suspended "pending further investigation into a number of ongoing allegations", the group said.
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The CBI said in a statement: “Tony Danker is dismissed with immediate effect following the independent investigation into specific complaints of workplace misconduct against him.
Danker with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (PA)“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.”
Newton-Smith, the CBI’s former chief economist, will rejoin the organisation as its new director-general, it added.
The lobby group is "liaising with the police and has made clear its intention to co-operate fully with any police investigations".
Danker had temporarily stepped aside while the investigation took place.
Rain Newton-Smith has taken over from DankerHe previously apologised and said any "offence" he caused was unintentional.
Since then further claims have emerged against CBI employees, including an allegation of rape at a summer boat party in July 2019.
The CBI has postponed its events and the Treasury has cut ties.
Danker took over the role in November 2020 from Carolyn Fairbairn.
He said in a series of tweets this morning: "I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office.
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"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 lobby group has been hit with a string of allegations putting it into the deepest crisis since its formation by royal charter in 1965.
An investigation by the Guardian looked into the catalogue of claims by more than a dozen women "that suggest a toxic culture of misogyny and unchecked misconduct", as the newspaper puts it.
The aforementioned boat party took place as staff took a break from butting heads with those in Westminster, while the Tories tried to secure a Brexit deal and Theresa May's premiership hung by a thread.
Amid the warring Conservative Party factions, businesses and lobby groups were pushing to be heard.
After the newspaper revealed Danker had stepped aside amid the probe, current and former female staff came forward to speak of their experiences at the CBI.
They range from claims that a former board member allegedly touched the bottom of a female employee, to a manager who it is alleged sent explicit images to several junior staff.
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