The managing director of Harrods expresses remorse over allegations of misconduct involving former owner Mohamed Al Fayed.
- Michael Ward acknowledges the toxic culture of secrecy and intimidation prevalent during Al Fayed’s ownership.
- The BBC investigation revealed allegations from 20 former female staff members against Al Fayed, including rape and sexual assault.
- Harrods is cooperating with the Metropolitan Police and conducting an internal review to assess employee involvement.
- Ward states he was unaware of Al Fayed’s alleged criminal behaviour during his tenure as managing director.
In a significant statement, Michael Ward, the managing director of Harrods, voiced his regret and sincere apologies over the allegations of sexual misconduct surrounding the department store’s former proprietor, Mohamed Al Fayed. Ward characterised this period in Harrods’ history as “shameful,” citing that Al Fayed cultivated a culture of secrecy, fear of repercussions, and misconduct among staff.
The revelations stem from a detailed investigation by the BBC, which shed light on disturbing accusations from 20 former female employees of Harrods. These women came forward, asserting that Al Fayed, who passed away the previous year, had subjected them to sexual assault while they were in his employ. Specifically, five of these former workers accused him of rape, incidents that allegedly took place during their tenure at the department store.
With the gravity of these allegations in view, Harrods has initiated direct communication with the Metropolitan Police. An internal review has also been set in motion, aiming to discern the extent of any involvement or oversight by employees during Al Fayed’s ownership.
Ward, who had himself worked under Al Fayed from 2006 until the ownership change in 2010, expressed his personal dismay at the unfolding revelations. He articulated a firm stance on transparency and accountability, stating: “As someone who has worked at Harrods since 2006, and therefore worked for Fayed until the change of ownership in 2010, I feel it is important to make it clear that I was not aware of his criminality and abuse.”
The managing director emphasised that while rumours of Al Fayed’s behaviour had circulated publicly, no formal charges or allegations were directly presented to him through the police, CPS, or any internal channels. Ward assured that he would have acted immediately had any such accusations been brought to his attention.
The Harrods management is committed to addressing the allegations and preventing future occurrences of misconduct.
