CBI boss Tony Danker has stepped apart following an allegation over his office conduct on the UK’s largest enterprise group.

The CBI on Monday stated it had been informed in January of an allegation relating to its director-general, which was investigated and handled “in keeping with CBI process”.

It stated the investigation into the formal grievance, throughout which Danker remained in place as head of the influential commerce physique, “decided that the difficulty didn’t require escalation to a disciplinary course of”.

Nonetheless, the enterprise organisation stated it had since been made conscious of additional stories relating to Danker’s office conduct, which “will result in an impartial investigation into these new issues”.

Danker requested to step except for his function throughout the investigation, it added.

“The CBI takes all issues of office conduct extraordinarily significantly however it is very important stress that, till this investigation is full, any new allegations stay unproven and it will be inappropriate to remark additional at this stage,” it stated in an announcement.

The CBI has employed legislation agency Fox Williams to supervise the investigation. Matthew Fell, the CBI’s chief UK coverage director, has taken over on an interim foundation.

Danker stated in an announcement on Twitter: “It’s been mortifying to listen to that I’ve prompted offence or nervousness to any colleague. It was fully unintentional, and I apologise profusely. We all the time try for the best requirements. I due to this fact assist the choice we’ve taken to evaluate any new allegations independently. And I’ve determined to step apart whereas the evaluate takes place and can co-operate totally with it.”

The Guardian, which first reported the investigation, approached the CBI final week in regards to the formal grievance made in January by a feminine worker about verbal and undesirable contact that she thought-about sexual harassment, in addition to different allegations.

The Guardian additionally reported allegations that Danker despatched a collection of undesirable messages to the girl, though it added that they weren’t regarded as a part of the grievance.

As head of the CBI, Danker has championed office range and gender steadiness, most lately arguing final week that the federal government ought to improve funding in childcare to assist dad and mom again into the workforce.

The choice by Belfast-born Danker to step apart comes at a fragile time for the CBI because it prepares to foyer authorities over business-related insurance policies to be included within the upcoming funds.

The group represents a few of Britain’s largest companies akin to Tesco, Unilever, Deloitte and Barclays. Danker has labored to revive a stronger relationship with the federal government after clashes over the affect of Brexit on British companies after the EU referendum.

Danker has been director-general of the CBI since November 2020, and was beforehand the chief govt of Be the Enterprise, a foyer group. He has additionally served govt roles on the Guardian Information & Media group and at McKinsey.