In the dark: Rain Newton-Smith
The CBI’s new director-general yesterday admitted she did not know which of the organisation’s overseas offices was at the centre of a rape allegation.
Rain Newton-Smith is grappling to save the business group after taking over amid a series of disturbing sex claims – and vowed to try to win back members who have deserted it in droves.
But she was at a loss when asked to explain how she would deal with one of the CBI’s international outposts where an alleged rape victim was working when she said she was allegedly attacked by two male colleagues.
‘I don’t know what office that is,’ Newton-Smith said.
And in further remarks likely to raise eyebrows, she said of the victim’s harrowing story: ‘I also listened to some of the voice that survivor put in that article when they said the CBI does great work.’
The incident is one of two alleged rapes at the centre of the CBI scandal. The other is said to have taken place during a 2019 summer boat party on the Thames.
They are among a series of allegations from more than a dozen women about misconduct at the CBI, revealed to the Guardian, that are being investigated by police.
Newton-Smith, who is just a few days into the job after replacing Tony Danker, said she was ‘devastated’ at what had happened.
But asked whether she had met the victims yet, she said: ‘I don’t know who those people are. There are obviously matters for the City of London Police and we have supported them with everything that they need.’
She also denied the job was a poisoned chalice, adding: ‘We have lost members in the last few weeks, I’m not going to deny that. But I am determined to win them back and I’m determined to bring new businesses into this organisation.’
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