Former Tesco chairman John Allan tells Sky News he is ‘completely innocent’ of misconduct claims | Business News

Former Tesco chairman John Allan – who was compelled to step down over misconduct allegations – has insisted he’s “utterly harmless”, however admits making “an ill-judged comment”.

In his first broadcast interview for the reason that controversy erupted with Sky Information’ Sophy Ridge On Sunday programme, the 74-year-old, who headed the grocery store big for eight years, mentioned there was “completely no substance” within the claims about his behaviour.

Having additionally been requested to prematurely depart his put up chairing housebuilder Barratt Developments, Mr Allan mentioned the businesses had felt it was best to “propel me beneath the closest bus”.

Mr Allan additionally beforehand served as president of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), which has been rocked by a sexual misconduct scandal in latest months.

The enterprise grandee had confronted 4 claims over his private conduct, three of which he strongly denies and one over which he “unreservedly apologised” for commenting on a feminine member of workers’s determine.

Tackled by Ridge over the opposite accusations levelled in opposition to him, he mentioned: “There’s completely no substance in any of those allegations. I’m utterly harmless.”

Mr Allan mentioned: “I feel corporations really really feel beneath plenty of stress when this kind of factor occurs.

“I feel in my specific case, I feel the businesses that I used to be chair of whereas saying numerous good issues about all of the wonderful issues I’ve finished for them over the eight or 9 years I have been concerned with them, frankly felt they needed to be seen to be to do one thing, and the best and best factor was to propel me beneath the closest bus.

“Now, having crawled out from two successive buses and nonetheless standing, I will plan over the subsequent few months to speak to lots of people who know much more about this than me to kind of see if we are able to devise a greater approach so the subsequent one who is topic to this kind of allegation is extra pretty handled.”

He added: “I do not assume I used to be notably pretty handled, however that is life.”

Learn extra:
Tesco chairman Allan in talks to sell stake in corporate mentoring firm
Embattled CBI secures hope as members approve conduct scandal reform package

‘I want to heck I had by no means used the phrase determine’

Pressed over the one grievance he acknowledged about commenting on a lady’s look in a gown at a CBI convention, Mr Allan mentioned: “Nicely, I assumed she was trying a bit kind of depressing and I want to heck I had by no means used the phrase determine now and I by no means will once more.

“I feel if I had stopped by saying ‘that is a really good gown, it fits you very effectively’ I may not have gotten myself into the difficulties that I’ve, nevertheless it was well-intentioned, it was my intention to cheer her up.

“Clearly it was an ill-judged comment, it had the reverse factor.

“Having mentioned that, I’ve talked to many ladies I do know since then and most of them are completely incredulous about how someone might be as upset as this woman seems to have been with with what I mentioned.

“What I’ve learnt I feel is that one must be terribly cautious about what you say to folks. So look, I put my hand as much as that one. I mentioned one thing with good intentions. It produced the mistaken influence. I’ve learnt a lesson from that. I apologised for it instantly on the time unreservedly.”

Saying his departure final month, Tesco mentioned it made “no findings of wrongdoing” in opposition to Mr Allan, whose tenure was coming to an finish anyway.

Barratt additionally pressured it had not obtained any complaints about Mr Allan throughout his time on the firm.