Tony Danker: Sacked CBI boss says repute ‘completely destroyed’ by misconduct allegations

The just lately sacked boss of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) says his “reputation has been totally destroyed” following misconduct allegations.

Tony Danker was sacked on 11 April – and three different workers suspended – by the enterprise group after police launched an investigation into the allegations.

The board of the CBI stated Mr Danker’s conduct “fell short” of what was anticipated of him and stated there had been “serious failings” in the way it acted as an organisation.

In his first interview since his firing, Mr Danker advised the BBC he had been used because the “fall guy” and wrongly related to separate claims, together with rape, and in consequence his repute had been “totally trashed”.

Mr Danker’s dismissal was stated to have been made on sturdy authorized grounds, by CBI’s president, Brian McBride.

Calling his description of occasions “selective”, when talking to the BBC’s Today programme, Mr McBride stated the previous CBI director basic was free to hunt “redress” if he felt unfairly handled.

Mr Danker advised the broadcaster his termination letter had cited 4 causes for his dismissal: For organising a secret and personal karaoke get together for 15 folks, for viewing the Instagram accounts of CBI employees, for sending non-work associated messages to employees and for inviting junior employees to breakfasts, lunches or one-on-one conferences.

But different claims – which included drug use in addition to critical sexual assault – emerged a matter of weeks after the CBI disclosed it was trying into separate allegations of misconduct in opposition to him.

‘There was by no means any bodily contact’

While Mr Danker apologised for having made some employees really feel “very uncomfortable”, the previous CBI boss insisted he had “never used sexually suggestive language with people” on the firm, making his speedy dismissal unwarranted.

“There was an incident somebody raised a complaint about unwanted contact, which was verbal contact,” he stated.

“There was never any physical contact. I’ve never had any physical contact. I’ve never used any sexual language. I’ve never propositioned anybody.”

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He additionally admitted to messaging round 200 particular person employees members on the firm, however insisted it was to try to construct “rapport” with colleagues who labored from dwelling throughout and after the COVID lockdown.

The commerce physique has been rocked by allegations of a poisonous office tradition since Mr Danker was final month accused of allegedly making undesirable contact with a girl who works for CBI. She thought-about the contact to be sexual harassment, The Guardian reported on the time. Mr Danker denies the allegation.

Some of the claims predate Mr Danker’s time at CBI.

In a tweet on 11 April, referring to allegations, Mr Danker stated: “I recognise the intense publicity the CBI has suffered following the revelations of awful events that occurred before my time in office.

“I used to be appalled to study them for the primary time final week. I used to be however shocked to study this morning that I had been dismissed from the CBI, as a substitute of being invited to place my place ahead as was initially confirmed.”

Mr Danker had stepped aside in early March as the allegations were investigated, the first part of which has been completed by law firm Fox Williams.

Police investigation at ‘very early stage’

Detective Chief Superintendent Richard Waight confirmed the City of London Police approached CBI following media reports of misconduct, but investigations were still at a “very early stage”.

It comes after The Guardian said it was approached by more than a dozen women who claimed to be victims of various forms of sexual misconduct by senior members of the CBI who were not Mr Danker.

One woman said she was raped at a staff party.

The CBI said: “Tony Danker is dismissed with speedy impact following the unbiased investigation into particular complaints of office misconduct in opposition to 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.”