UK lifestyle brand Ted Baker has announced its chief executive, Ray Kelvin, is to take a voluntary leave of absence after the company’s board learned of “further serious allegations” regarding his conduct.
The move follows the news last week that Ted Baker has appointed independent law firm Herbert Smith Freehills LLP to conduct an external investigation into the allegations levelled at Kelvin – including claims he reportedly forced hugs and kisses on employees.
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The company published a statement on 3 December addressing these allegations, stating both Kelvin and the group have “always prided themselves on Ted Baker being a great employer and business to work with.”
However, late on Friday (7 December) afternoon, Ted Baker said its board has been made aware of “further serious allegations” about the conduct of its founder and chief executive, which it will also be investigating.
“Ray Kelvin has agreed, for the benefit of the business and the people who work in it, that he will take a voluntary leave of absence from his role with the company while these allegations are investigated,” the company said. “The board has appointed chief operating officer Lindsay Page as acting CEO with immediate effect while Ray Kelvin remains on leave.”
It added it will not make any further comment about the nature of the allegations that have been made while they remain under investigation.
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By GlobalDataNon-executive chairman David Bernstein added: “I am confident that the business remains in a strong position to continue to deliver its long-term growth strategy.”
Last week, the retailer hailed a “resilient” performance in the third quarter despite what it called challenging external trading conditions. The UK-listed company posted a 0.2% decrease in group revenue, reflecting the anticipated decline in wholesale sales due to the timing of deliveries, largely offset by the retail sales performance.
