Tesco outgoing chair John Allan exits housebuilder over misconduct claims

The outgoing chairman of the retail giant Tesco, John Allan, has stepped down from the same role at Barratt Developments, the housebuilder said Tuesday following misconduct allegations which he denies.

Allan, who announced Friday that he will leave Tesco next month, will also depart as Barratt chairman, the property firm said in a statement.

Caroline Silver had been due to take the reins in September but will now start at the end of June.

"The board believes it is in the best interests of Barratt to accelerate the planned transition to the new chair of the board to prevent the ongoing impact of the allegations against John from becoming disruptive to the company," it added in the statement.

Barratt stressed it "has not received any complaints about John Allan" during his nine-year tenure at the firm.

Allan meanwhile blamed "anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations" of misconduct for his exit.

"It is with regret that at the request of the board I am stepping down as chairman of Barratt Developments Plc as of June 30, 2023, ahead of finishing my tenure in early September as planned," Allan said in a separate statement.

"My early departure from Barratt is a result of the anonymous and unsubstantiated allegations made against me... which I vehemently deny."

Earlier this month, The Guardian newspaper reported that Allan "faces claims of inappropriate and unprofessional behaviour from four women".

It said that Allan, 74, allegedly touched the bottom of a senior Tesco staff member at last year's annual general meeting.

The Guardian had recently revealed similar accusations against staff at the CBI - Britain's main business lobby group - triggering a major shake-up at the organisation and a police investigation.

The newspaper said it was also claimed that Allan touched the bottom of a member of staff at the CBI's annual dinner in 2019, when he was president of the lobby group.

The Guardian said the one allegation that Allan admitted to was a comment about a CBI staffer's appearance that she found to be offensive in 2019.