CBI lobby group in ‘difficult place’ after rape claim, says member

The CBI group of companies is in a “very difficult position” as it faces multiple allegations of sexual misconduct, the chief executive of one of its member firms said.

Andy Wood, managing director of brewing company Adnams, said he had been in talks with his management team about a possible exit from the group.

It comes as an investigation continues at the CBI into a series of allegations, including an allegation of rape in 2019.

The government announced on Wednesday that it would stop contact with the group.

It is understood that the Treasury Department and ministers from the Departments of Commerce and Trade will not be cooperating with the CBI pending the outcome of the investigation into the allegations of misconduct.

The decision came after the CBI, one of the UK’s largest business groups representing more than 190,000 companies, announced it would postpone all public events, including the annual dinner.

The group has hired a private law firm, Fox Williams, to investigate all the allegations and expects to have some preliminary findings shortly after Easter.

This means it has essentially ceased its work, which consists mainly of influencing politicians on behalf of its members to make policies that benefit UK businesses, as well as conducting research and providing business advisory services to its members.

Some company executives who are members of the CBI have described the situation as an existential crisis for the organization.

Mr Wood, who runs Adnams in Southwold, Suffolk, said he would “prefer” the CBI “govern itself” but added the group needs to “set the standards here and where we are at the moment.” , is unacceptable”.

“It’s in a very difficult place, isn’t it. If there is any truth to that, I think I can speak for all members that such behavior is totally unacceptable, that there is no place for it in the workplace,” said Mr Wood.

When asked on the BBC’s Today program if he had had talks about leaving the brewery, he replied: “Indeed we have.”

“It takes decades to build a reputation and moments to destroy it,” he added. “The CBI needs to move on with this and sort it out quickly and restore our confidence in the organization.”

Mr Wood said, like many other companies have told the BBC, he would await the outcome of the inquiry before making any decisions.

Marks and Spencer said it had written to the CBI’s acting director-general to “seek assurances” that the allegations would be “taken seriously and investigated fully”, while Rolls-Royce said the latest allegations were “deeply concerning”.

The most serious allegation facing the CBI comes from a woman who said she was raped by an elderly colleague at a CBI summer boat party in 2019.

The woman told the Guardian newspaper, which first published the allegations, that she felt let down by a CBI executive who she said advised her to seek advice rather than pursue the matter “None Any evidence or record of the matter,” but added that it was part of the investigation being conducted by Fox Williams

A spokesman for the group said the organization “has treated all matters of workplace conduct with the utmost seriousness and will continue to do so”.

The investigative team is also looking into separate allegations against CBI Director General Tony Danker, who joined the CBI in 2020.

Mr Danker recently resigned pending the results of the investigation, which he “profusely apologizes for” and claims “was completely unintentional”.

The BBC understands these new allegations published by the Guardian do not relate to Mr Danker.

Joanna Chatterton, head of the labor law team at Fox Williams, confirmed that the firm was originally instructed by the CBI to conduct “an independent investigative inquiry into workplace conduct” of Mr Danker, but added that her mandate had been expanded “in light of” another recent allegations reported by the Guardian”.

“The conclusions of our independent investigation will be reported to the CBI Board and will allow the Board to decide on any subsequent action it deems appropriate,” she said.

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