Tesco Chairman John Allan said that «these allegations are completely baseless.» as he promised to clear his name. Credit: Hannah McKay/Reuters
Tesco chairman John Allan is due to step down next month after the supermarket said accusations of his behavior could be a «distraction».
Mr Allan , who was due to step down as chairman next year, will now step down at Tesco's AGM next month.
The decision follows several allegations in recent weeks regarding Mr. Allan's conduct. , whose representatives from the city's grandee described the accusations as «simply untrue.»
Mr. Allan is also chairman of the board of directors of Barratt Homes, and this year he should step down from this position. He is set to step down from his position on the board of directors on September 6th. When asked on Friday if the date was being pushed back, Barratt declined to comment.
In statements made to the Guardian, Tesco's chairman was accused four times of inappropriate and unprofessional behavior. This included one incident that is said to have taken place at the Supermarkets Annual General Meeting (AGM) last year.
Mr Allan has faced accusations that he touched the butt of a senior Tesco employee in meeting. He was also accused of making inappropriate remarks to two other women on various occasions between 2019 and 2022 and touching the buttocks of another woman.
He denied all but one of the allegations, admitting only to commenting on the appearance of a Confederation of British Industry (CBI) worker in 2019, for which he apologized. At the time, Mr. Allan was President of the CBI.
Mr. Allan said, “I regret to have to step down prematurely as Chairman of Tesco due to anonymous and unsubstantiated accusations. against me, according to The Guardian.
“These allegations are completely baseless, as evidenced by internal procedures taken by Tesco.
«There is no evidence of any wrongdoing at the time or at any stage of my Tesco presidency and I remain determined to prove my innocence.»
John Allan denied three of the four allegations of inappropriate behavior. Photo: Jeff Pugh
On Friday, Tesco said it immediately initiated an extensive investigation into the allegations related to its annual general meeting, including an evaluation of video footage of the meeting. The supermarket urged internal employees to report if they have concerns about the behavior of any patron and in particular regarding any incidents that may have occurred at the annual general meeting of shareholders.
He said he did not find any evidence or complaints about Mr. Allan's conduct at the AGM, or generally during his tenure as chairman.
Byron Grote, Tesco's senior independent director, has been appointed interim chairman of the supermarket, and a replacement for Mr. Allan has been found.
Mr. Grote, who previously led internal search for a new chairman, said: Tesco during his eight years as chairman.
“While we have received no complaints about John's behavior and found no wrongdoing, these allegations may distract Tesco. On behalf of the board of directors, I thank him for his significant contribution to the business.
«We are well on our way to finding a new chairman and will make an announcement in due course.»
Stuart Gilliland will become a senior independent director and lead the search for a new chairman.
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Tesco's ambition accelerating Mr Allan's departure marks a major change for one of Britain's largest companies.
During his tenure, Tesco regained market share during the Covid crisis and soaring inflation. However, the supermarket has faced pressure lately due to claims of wider speculation in the industry.
The supermarket also expected shareholders to face tough questions about its corporate culture at its upcoming annual general meeting following allegations regarding Allan
.
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Tesco was among the companies that suspended their CBI membership earlier this year following allegations of rape and harassment by a group of business lobbyists.
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An independent culture report at the CBI found that it harbored «poisonous» sexual predators.
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