The CBI has appointed the business ethics consultancy Principia Advisory to help overhaul its operations, after a series of sexual misconduct allegations reported by the Guardian.
The new head of the Confederation of British Industry, Rain Newton-Smith, has written to members to lay out its action plan, just over a week after she took the helm and apologised to the victims of sexual misconduct at the business lobby group.
Newton-Smith, a former chief economist at the CBI, who recently returned to become director general as the group fights for survival, said in the letter that she had spoken to more than 250 members in her first week.
“With a general election looming, the voice of business urgently needs to be heard,” she wrote. “And we are continuing to provide you with economic insights to make better decisions in these challenging economic times. I just hope that, working together, we can rebuild our culture, redefine our purpose and regain your trust so that we can help make that happen.”
The CBI has called an extraordinary general meeting for midday on 6 June. In the next four weeks, its work would be focused on its culture and purpose, Newton-Smith said.
“On culture, we need concrete actions and transparency about what we’re doing, so that everyone feels empowered to share their stories and knows they will be supported. Actions like implementing the 35 recommendations in the independent Fox Williams’ review into the allegations. And commissioning a root-and-branch review of the CBI’s culture to build on that, looking deeper into the why.”
Principia Advisory had been asked to “identify the root causes of past failure, and recommend the changes required for cultural renewal and rebuilding trust. They will provide us with the independent, rigorous analysis, and the deep expertise in conduct and culture we need,” the letter said.
The new CBI director general also promised “listening sessions” and a survey to all members in the coming weeks. The group will share a prospectus “for what a more focused CBI could look like” before members vote on it at the EGM.
