- By Darbail Jordan
- Business reporter, BBC News
The CBI is dealing with the second rape allegation of a woman who claimed that she was seriously assaulted by two male associates.
The Guardian reported that the attack took place when the woman was working in one of the CBI’s overseas offices.
The CBI said these latest allegations were “disgusting and our hearts go out to any women who have been victimized by the behavior described”.
It said that it was not aware of these allegations before.
But Brian McBride, president of the CBI, added: “It is vital that they are now fully investigated and we are working closely with the police to help ensure that whoever is responsible is brought to justice.”
The City of London police are investigating the alleged rape at a CBI summer party in 2019.
The BBC has contacted the City of London police regarding the second alleged rape.
On Friday, two of the UK’s biggest insurance companies, Aviva and Phoenix Group, said they were canceling their membership of the CBI – one of the UK’s leading business lobby groups which claims to speak for 190,000 companies.
Aviva said: “Given the very serious allegations made, and the CBI’s handling of the process and response, we believe the CBI is no longer able to fulfill its core function – to be the representative voice of UK business .
“We therefore regretfully terminate our membership with immediate effect.”
The Phoenix Group said: “In addition to the allegations reported this morning, we have taken the decision to resign our membership of the CBI with immediate effect.”
Meanwhile, supermarket group Asda said: “We are aware that further allegations have been made against the CBI and have decided to suspend our engagement with them while these are investigated.”
The government has already announced that it has “terminated” its engagement with the CBI. Last week the British Insurance Brokers’ Association said it was withdrawing its membership “due to new reports”.
The Guardian also reported that a woman at the CBI office in London was stalked by a male colleague in 2018.
She complained to the CBI and a finding of harassment was upheld.
However, the newspaper reported that the man continued to work for the organization and later left for unrelated reasons.
In response, the CBI said: “We have acknowledged the content of the harassment report outlined in relation to an allegation made and investigated in January 2018.
“The harassment finding is upheld and a penalty is imposed.”
Dame Carolyn Fairbairn was director-general of the CBI between 2015 and 2020. The BBC has contacted her for comment.
Earlier this month, claims of misconduct and sexual assault by the CBI surfaced.
The group has suspended three employees pending the outcome of an investigation by law firm Fox Williams.
McBride said it expects a report from Fox Williams later Friday.
“The board will announce its response and the other steps we are taking to bring about the much-needed change early next week,” he said.
Danker succeeds Dame Carolyn in late 2020.
The CBI has appointed Rain Newton-Smith – the former chief economist – as its new director-general. Ms Newton-Smith was at the CBI for nearly nine years before leaving last month to join Barclays but has now returned to the business lobby group.
McBride said: “We are rightly undertaking an urgent root and branch review of our culture to correct the mistakes where we can and to transform our workplace for everyone.”
However, some doubt whether someone working at the CBI is the right person to lead an overhaul of the organization and its culture.
Commenting on Thursday on Ms Newton-Smith’s appointment, Ann Francke, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, said: “I’m not sure there is a lot of openness and transparency around the process and obviously you can question whether there is one with the right change agent to change the culture.”