‘Repulsive’ allegations about CBI shock boss of drugmaker GSK
The boss of Britain’s second-biggest drugmaker has condemned the allegations of sexual misconduct that have thrown the future of the CBI into doubt as “extremely shocking” and “pretty repulsive”.
The remarks by GSK’s chief executive, Emma Walmsley, made as the company reported its latest quarterly results, came on the day the CBI’s former chief economist, Rain Newton-Smith, returned to the crisis-hit business lobby group to take over as director general.
GSK and the fellow pharma firm AstraZeneca were among a wave of companies who suspended their CBI membership on Friday, while others, including Aviva, NatWest and John Lewis, went further and cut ties completely.
The exodus came after the Guardian published fresh allegations of sexual misconduct at the group, including a woman who said she was raped by two male colleagues at the CBI, and later that day the CBI suspended all membership and policy activity until an extraordinary meeting in June, when members will vote on its future and purpose.
The CBI’s president Brian McBride said in a letter to members on Monday that the group failed to “filter out culturally toxic people” from its ranks, leading to “terrible consequences” including allegations of sexual harassment.
Walmsley was asked on Wednesday why GSK had only suspended and not terminated its CBI membership. She replied: “I want to reiterate for GSK and for me personally: we have a categoric zero-tolerance approach to any form of sexual harassment in the workplace or be it anywhere else.
“There’s no question that the allegations around the CBI are extremely shocking, pretty repulsive, and certainly I applaud wholeheartedly those who have the courage to speak up in a difficult environment.”
Walmsley said GSK would reassess
Read more on theguardian.com
