Nigel Blow, a former Harrods executive, alleged Fenwick rescinded their CEO job offer.
- Fenwick retracted the offer following harassment allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed.
- Blow was set to start as CEO on 17 October but was informed of the withdrawal two weeks prior.
- He was surprised by this decision, having engaged extensively with Fenwick’s team.
- The allegations against Al Fayed were met with horror by many, including Blow.
Nigel Blow, previously an executive at Harrods, has asserted that Fenwick withdrew their offer for him to step in as their new CEO. This action came just two weeks before his planned start date of 17 October. Blow was left shocked by Fenwick’s decision, especially after a period of substantial preparation involving meetings with various executives and shareholders at Fenwick.
The retraction of Blow’s appointment follows emerging reports of serious sexual misconduct allegations against Mohamed Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods. The allegations, which have received widespread attention, include accusations of grooming, sexual assault, and rape, reportedly carried out by Al Fayed.
Blow, anticipating taking on the significant challenge of steering Fenwick back to profitability after a series of losses, expressed his astonishment at the withdrawal. He stated, “I am shocked that Fenwick has withdrawn its offer of the CEO position to me, just two weeks before I was due to start.”
He further clarified his position, having watched the recent BBC documentary detailing Al Fayed’s alleged behaviour. Blow conveyed his horror at the disclosures made by victims, noting he had not been aware of such incidents during his tenure at Harrods from 2002 to 2007.
Despite these allegations, Blow insisted he never witnessed or heard of any inappropriate actions by Al Fayed during his time at Harrods. However, the gravity of the situation has prompted initiatives by Harrods to investigate whether any of their current employees might have been involved or aware of the misconduct.
The withdrawal of Blow’s CEO position offer by Fenwick underscores the significant implications of historical allegations on present-day corporate appointments.
