Sacked CBI boss complains he was the 'fall guy' for wider issues at trade body

19 April 2023 , 19:30

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Tony Danker was fired last month (Image: PA)

The sacked director general of the Confederation of Business Industry claims he has been made the “fall guy” for a wider crisis engulfing it.

Tony Danker, axed over allegations about behaviour towards staff, said: “Not only did they just throw me under the bus, they reversed the bus back over me.”

Mr Danker said the CBI cited four reasons – holding a “secret” karaoke party for 15 people, viewing Instagram accounts of CBI staff, sending non-work messages to staff, and inviting junior employees to lunch.

He said: “The CBI knew about all these things and not once raised them as a disciplinary issue, until suddenly they became grounds for instant dismissal.”

Danker claims CBI has wider issues to deal with (Getty Images)

Mr Danker says he was wrongly associated with separate allegations, including rape, said to have taken place at the CBI before he joined and which are being investigated by police.

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He said his “reputation has been totally destroyed”. It comes as the CBI fights for its survival. The Government has paused any dealings with the body as it awaits the outcome of the police investigation.

Brian McBride, the CBI’s president, called Mr Danker’s account “selective”, and added: “The board lost its trust and confidence in his ability to lead the organisation and represent the CBI in public.”

Graham Hiscott