The boss of Primark has quit over an ‘error of judgement’ in his behaviour towards a female colleague.
The discount fashion retailer said CEO Paul Marchant resigned ‘with immediate effect’ following an investigation into the incident.
The company said Marchant had made an apology to the individual, the ABF board as well as ‘his Primark colleagues and others connected to the business’.
Finance director Eoin Tonge will set in as interim CEO, with its group financial controller, Joana Edwards, becoming interim finance director.
George Weston, Chief Executive of ABF, 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.’
The group said it would continue to offer support to the individual who brought this behaviour to its attention.
Marchant joined Primark as chief operating officer in 2009 and became chief executive later that year, taking over from Primark founder Arthur Ryan. He previously worked for Debenhams, Topman, River Island and New Look.
The first Primark store opened in Dublin in 1969 followed by stores in Belfast and Cork – all under the name Penneys.
By 1974, there were 24 Penneys shops including three in Scotland and two in England.
Today, Primark has 185 stores across Britain, employs more than 30,000 colleagues and serves millions of customers every week.