The director general of the CBI has stepped aside while an investigation is carried out into his workplace conduct.
In a brief statement, the business organisation said on Monday that it had been made aware of an allegation about Tony Danker’s workplace conduct in January. That had been “dealt with comprehensively” at the time, it said, and had not required escalation.
However, since then it had been made aware of further reports about his conduct, and has launched an independent investigation, with Danker asking to step aside from his role while it was carried out.
“The CBI takes all matters of workplace conduct extremely seriously but it is important to stress that until this investigation is complete, any new allegations remain unproven,” the body said.
It is understood that The Guardian first made the CBI aware of the fresh allegations. The newspaper said the CBI had hired Joanna Chatterton, head of employment law at Fox Williams, to lead the probe. Matthew Fell, the CBI’s UK policy director, has replaced Danker on an interim basis.
In a statement on Twitter, Danker said: “It’s been mortifying to hear that I have caused offense or anxiety to any colleague. It was completely unintentional and I apologise profusely.
“I have decided to step aside while the review takes place and will cooperate fully with it.”
Danker, who has led the CBI since November 2020, was a government policy advisor between 2008 and 2010. He then worked for Guardian News & Media, The Guardian’s parent company, as international director and chief strategy officer, until 2017.
