This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47356788
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 3 | Version 4 |
---|---|
Karren Brady quits Philip Green's empire amid controversy | Karren Brady quits Philip Green's empire amid controversy |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Baroness Karren Brady has resigned from Sir Philip Green's retail empire, just weeks after vowing to stay in her post despite a harassment scandal. | Baroness Karren Brady has resigned from Sir Philip Green's retail empire, just weeks after vowing to stay in her post despite a harassment scandal. |
Taveta, the holding company for Sir Philip's Arcadia group, said she had stepped down as its non-executive chairman, but gave no reason. | Taveta, the holding company for Sir Philip's Arcadia group, said she had stepped down as its non-executive chairman, but gave no reason. |
She had been chairman since July 2017. | She had been chairman since July 2017. |
It comes after allegations of sexual harassment and racial abuse of staff by Sir Philip were reported earlier this month, accusations he strongly denies. | It comes after allegations of sexual harassment and racial abuse of staff by Sir Philip were reported earlier this month, accusations he strongly denies. |
Lady Brady had said she felt "a real sense of duty" to staff at the retail empire, including her own daughter, Sophia Peschisolido, who has been a social media content assistant at Topshop since 2016. | |
She was made a life peer in 2014 and sits on the Conservative benches in the House of Lords. | |
Lady Brady also runs a business leadership firm through the website strongfemaleleadership.com. | |
The firm said Sharon Brown had also resigned as non-executive director of Taveta. | The firm said Sharon Brown had also resigned as non-executive director of Taveta. |
"Taveta thanks them for their contribution and wishes them well for the future," the company said. | "Taveta thanks them for their contribution and wishes them well for the future," the company said. |
Analysis | Analysis |
Simon Jack, business editor | Simon Jack, business editor |
Baroness Brady's seat at the head of the Taveta board has been an uncomfortable one ever since she became chair in 2017. | Baroness Brady's seat at the head of the Taveta board has been an uncomfortable one ever since she became chair in 2017. |
Putting one of Britain's most high-profile businesswomen at the head of a board on which she had served since 2010 was seen a shrewd appointment in the wake of the collapse of BHS. | Putting one of Britain's most high-profile businesswomen at the head of a board on which she had served since 2010 was seen a shrewd appointment in the wake of the collapse of BHS. |
She has described herself as being "tough" and has regularly spoken out against men who abuse their power within organisations, subjecting women to inappropriate behaviour. | She has described herself as being "tough" and has regularly spoken out against men who abuse their power within organisations, subjecting women to inappropriate behaviour. |
The recent revelations of substantial payments of hush money to keep allegations against Sir Philip of sexual and racial harassment quiet therefore made her position very awkward indeed. | The recent revelations of substantial payments of hush money to keep allegations against Sir Philip of sexual and racial harassment quiet therefore made her position very awkward indeed. |
Having weathered the media storm around Sir Philip Green's conduct and the use of non-disclosure agreements for several months, questions will naturally arise as to why they are both stepping down now. | Having weathered the media storm around Sir Philip Green's conduct and the use of non-disclosure agreements for several months, questions will naturally arise as to why they are both stepping down now. |
Sir Philip Green has always insisted that there was nothing in his conduct that was unlawful. | Sir Philip Green has always insisted that there was nothing in his conduct that was unlawful. |
With both business associates and board members jumping ship, it seems that while not unlawful, it has made him deeply unpopular. | With both business associates and board members jumping ship, it seems that while not unlawful, it has made him deeply unpopular. |
Earlier this month, Sir Philip dropped legal action against the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which had been prevented from publishing accounts of his alleged misconduct towards five employees. | Earlier this month, Sir Philip dropped legal action against the Daily Telegraph newspaper, which had been prevented from publishing accounts of his alleged misconduct towards five employees. |
The paper subsequently reported that he paid a female employee more than £1m to keep quiet after she accused him of kissing and groping her. | The paper subsequently reported that he paid a female employee more than £1m to keep quiet after she accused him of kissing and groping her. |
After the allegations became public, Lady Brady came under pressure to step down from her post at Taveta. | |
But she responded by saying that she would stay in her post because she felt "a real sense of duty" to the people working at Taveta. | But she responded by saying that she would stay in her post because she felt "a real sense of duty" to the people working at Taveta. |
She said at the time in a statement issued through her public relations team: "I want to be 100% clear - I have always been an outspoken defender of women's rights in the workplace and always will be. | She said at the time in a statement issued through her public relations team: "I want to be 100% clear - I have always been an outspoken defender of women's rights in the workplace and always will be. |
"As chairman of Taveta, I am extremely proud of our people, our customers and our brands. My primary concern are the 20,000 people who work there, of which over 85% are women." | "As chairman of Taveta, I am extremely proud of our people, our customers and our brands. My primary concern are the 20,000 people who work there, of which over 85% are women." |