Revealed: CBI In Turmoil Following New Claims Of Sexual Misconduct

Allegations about senior managers made by more than a dozen women

- Anna Isaac

More than a dozen women claim to have been victims of various forms of sexual misconduct by senior figures at the Confederation of British Industry, including one who alleges she was raped at a staff party on a boat on the River Thames.

The women, who all work at the CBI or have worked there in recent years, approached the Guardian with fresh concerns about what they describe as a toxic culture at Britain's most influential business lobbying organisation. Some of their claims are corroborated by more than 10 other current and former employees, and form part of an expanding investigation that has plunged the CBI into its biggest crisis since it was founded by royal charter in 1965.

The women came forward after the Guardian revealed separate complaints made against Tony Danker, the CBI's director general, last month. One of these was defined as sexual harassment.

The disclosure triggered an independent investigation by a law firm and Danker has stood down from his role at the CBI pending the outcome of the inquiry.

None of the new claims relate to Danker, and he has apologised for causing any unintentional offence.

As well as the alleged rape, the new claims against different men also include allegations of:

An attempted sexual assault by a manager at the same staff boat party in 2019.

A senior manager sending explicit images to junior female staff over several years.

Other senior managers behaving unprofessionally and inappropriately towards much younger female colleagues. Alleged instances include an ex-board member touching a female employee's bottom and making what was seen as a sexualised remark to another woman about her appearance within earshot of colleagues.

A manager propositioning women after they felt he had pushed them to drink more alcohol, while they were already drunk.

Widespread use of cocaine at official CBI events.