Sacked CBI boss said he’s been ‘thrown under the bus’

The sacked boss of the Confederation of British Industry said his reputation had been “totally destroyed” following misconduct allegations. Tony Danker, 51, said yesterday he had not only been “thrown under the bus” but that the CBI had “reversed the bus back over me”.

In his first interview since his dismissal on April 11, Mr Danker said his name had been wrongly associated with separate claims that allegedly occurred at the CBI before he joined.

The lobby group is facing a number of separate claims from 2019, including drug use as well as serious sexual assault which is being investigated by police.

Mr Danker said he believes he has been made “the fall guy” by the CBI as it faces questions over its future. He was accused last month of misconduct.

He told the BBC: “When they fired me, they told me some of the things I’ve done, and they named them.

“These were things that just a week or two earlier they said didn’t merit any action.”

He added: “I’ve been around the block and I know the way the world works. But it’s so clear, I’ve been made the fall guy.”

Mr Danker said that his termination letter cited four reasons for his dismissal: organising a secret and private karaoke party for 15 people, viewing the Instagram accounts of CBI staff, sending non-work related messages to staff and inviting junior staff to breakfasts, lunches or one-on-one meetings.

Mr Danker acknowledged he had made some staff feel “very uncomfortable”.

He said: “I apologise for that.”

But he said he had “never used sexually suggestive language with people”.

CBI president Brian McBride said the board had lost trust in Mr Danker’s ability to lead the organisation and that he was dismissed on strong legal grounds.

He told the BBC’s Today programme that Mr Danker was free to go to an employment tribunal.

A number of big firm members have halted their engagement with the group since the scandals emerged.

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