Sacked CBI boss Tony Danker says reputation ‘destroyed’

Tony Danker, the former boss of business group giant, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), has claimed his “reputation has been totally destroyed” after being dismissed over complaints about his behaviour. 

In his first interview since being fired on 11 April, Danker acknowledged he had made some staff feel “very uncomfortable” and apologised for that. However, he told BBC’s Today programme that his name had been wrongly associated with separate claims, including rape, that allegedly occurred at the CBI before he joined. 

The CBI’s president said Danker was dismissed on strong legal grounds, and that his description of events was “selective”. In the BBC interview, Danker said he was considering legal action but does not want to sue. 

The dismissal letter reportedly cited four reasons for his dismissal, including organising a secret and private karaoke party for 15 people after a Christmas work event, viewing the Instagram accounts of CBI staff, sending non-work related messages to staff on work messaging platforms, and inviting junior staff to breakfasts, lunches, or one-on-one meetings. The lobby group is facing a number of claims from 2019, including drug use as well as serious sexual assault which is being investigated by City of London police.