The managing director of Harrods has accused his former boss Mohamed al Fayed of presiding over “a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct”.
5 girls who used to work on the luxurious division retailer have alleged they had been raped by Fayed, who died final yr on the age of 94, with a number of different former staff alleging sexual misconduct.
In a written assertion, Michael Ward, who labored for the Egyptian billionaire at Harrods for 4 years, has denied having been beforehand conscious of the businessman’s “criminality and abuse”.
He stated Fayed’s possession between 1985 and 2010 represents a “shameful period in the business’s history”.
Mr Ward apologised and stated Harrods had “failed our colleagues”.
His assertion reads: “As managing director of Harrods, I wanted to convey my personal horror at the revelations that have emerged over the past week.
“We have now all seen the survivors bravely converse in regards to the horrible abuse they suffered by the hands of Harrods former proprietor Mohamed Fayed.
“As we have already stated, we failed our colleagues and for that we are deeply sorry.
“As somebody who has labored at Harrods since 2006, and due to this fact labored for Fayed till the change of possession in 2010, I really feel it is very important make it clear that I used to be not conscious of his criminality and abuse.
“While it is true that rumours of his behaviour circulated in the public domain, no charges or allegations were ever put to me by the Police, the CPS, internal channels or others. Had they been, I would of course have acted immediately.”
Picture:
Harrods managing director Michael Ward. Pic: PA
Mr Ward additionally stated an impartial assessment was beneath approach into points arising from the allegations and that he had “provided all the information I have to ensure my own conduct can be reviewed alongside that of my colleagues”.
“I am not part of the committee conducting this review and will in no way influence its operation or recommendations… I have also stepped back from my charity trustee positions while this review is taking place,” he stated.
Mr Ward added that Fayed had ran his enterprise as his “own personal fiefdom”.
He continued: “It is now clear that he presided over a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion and sexual misconduct.
“The image that’s now rising means that he did this wherever he operated.”
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
4:40
Fayed survivor speaks out: ‘It smashes his legacy’
Mr Ward insisted that the Harrods of right this moment is “unrecognisable” in comparison with the way it was beneath Fayed’s management.
He added that the enterprise has established a settlement course of which has been “designed in consultation with independent, external experts in personal injury litigation”.
“We encourage former colleagues to contact us using this process so that we can provide the support, and recourse, they need”, Mr Ward stated.
Sources inside Harrods have stated the enterprise has accepted vicarious legal responsibility, a rule of regulation that imposes strict legal responsibility on employers for the wrongdoings of their staff, for the conduct of Fayed for the aim of settling claims of alleged victims delivered to its consideration since 2023.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
0:33
‘Mohamed al Fayed brainwashed me’
Some girls have claimed they had been subjected to “intrusive and wholly unnecessary” gynaecological exams to work for Fayed and have alleged the aim of the exams was for checking for sexually transmitted infections.
Alleged victims are set to lodge a criticism towards Dr Ann Coxon, claiming she has “questions to answer” over the examinations.
Dr Coxon declined to touch upon the matter.
A Normal Medical Council spokeswoman stated: “If we identify any potential fitness to practise concerns about individual doctors, we will thoroughly examine all relevant information and take action as appropriate.”
What has Fayed been accused of?
Dean Armstrong KC, a lawyer representing a few of Fayed’s 37 alleged victims, has stated the case towards the businessman “combines some of the most horrific elements” of these together with Jimmy Savile, Jeffrey Epstein and Harvey Weinstein.
The allegations have surfaced after an investigation by the BBC.
After taking up Harrods in 1985, Fayed expanded his enterprise pursuits to incorporate the Paris Ritz and Fulham Soccer Membership.
Legal professionals say they’re conscious of allegations made by staff at different companies owned by Fayed and are representing girls who labored on the Paris Ritz.
There haven’t been any allegations towards Fayed in relation to his possession of Fulham FC between 1997 and 2013.
