Tesco boss John Allan resigns amid claims he groped women
TESCO’S chairman John Allan is quitting amid claims he groped women.
The supermarket giant said the allegations of inappropriate behaviour “risk becoming a distraction”.
Mr Allan, 74, who has been in the role for eight years, strongly denies three of four accusations.
A Guardian report claimed Mr Allan, a former president of the CBI business group, touched the bottom of a senior Tesco employee at the chain’s AGM last year.
He is also said to have grabbed a woman at a CBI dinner in 2019 and made an inappropriate remarks in 2021.
He has previously said these claims were “simply untrue”.
However Mr Allan did admit commenting to a woman at the CBI on a dress she was wearing in 2019.
He said he was “mortified” and had apologised immediately.
Tesco held a review into the complaints.
Director Bryan Grote, who will temporarily replace Mr Allan, said it “made no findings of wrongdoing”.
Mr Allan said: “It is with regret that I am having to prematurely stand down.
“These allegations are utterly baseless.
“I remain determined to prove my innocence.”