FRANKFURT, (Reuters) – GlaxoSmithKline has dismissed Moncef Slaoui as chairman of a company controlled by the British drugmaker after an internal investigation found he had sexually harassed a GSK employee several years ago.
GSK said the termination of Slaoui’s contract at Galvani Bioelectronics was with immediate effect.
Slaoui, the former chief adviser to the U.S. COVID-19 vaccine development programme known as Operation Warp Speed (OWS), on Wednesday night acknowledged his dismissal and issued an apology.
“I would like to apologise unreservedly to the employee concerned and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused,” he said. He also apologised to his wife and family in the statement.
GSK said an investigation into Slaoui’s conduct, performed on its behalf by an independent law firm, had substantiated allegations of harassment and inappropriate contact, adding the inquiry was ongoing.
The termination of Slaoui’s contract follows receipt of a letter containing the allegations of inappropriate conduct toward the GSK employee, the company said in a statement, adding that the allegations stemmed from when Slaoui was an employee of GSK.
