Primark chief executive Paul Marchant has resigned from his role will immediate effect following an investigation into alleged inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.
The fashion retailer’s parent company Associated British Foods said an investigation was launched after a claim was brought forward against Marchant by an individual about his behaviour towards her in a social environment.
A statement from the group said that Marchant “co-operated with the investigation, acknowledged his error of judgement and accepted that his actions fell below the standards expected”.
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“He has made an apology to the individual concerned, the ABF Board and also to his Primark colleagues and others connected to the business,” the group added.
Marchant, who joined Primark in 2009, will be replaced by ABF’s finance chief Eoin Tonge on an interim basis and the group’s financial controller Joana Edwards will be the interim finance director.
ABF chief executive George Weston said: “I am immensely disappointed. At ABF, we believe that high standards of integrity are essential. Acting responsibly is the only way to build and manage a business over the long term.
“Colleagues and others must be treated with respect and dignity. Our culture has to be, and is, bigger than any one individual.”
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