Former Confederation of British Industry (CBI) director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn says the scandal at the UK business lobby group, which has seen allegations of sexual harassment and rape being made by the organisation’s staff, has been “incredibly difficult and distressing.” While CBI president Brian McBride has told members that the group hired “culturally toxic people” and “made mistakes in how we organised the business that led to terrible consequences,” Dame Carolyn said she is “proud” of the culture she created as the first woman to run the organisation. “I maintain and believe that it was a really good culture, and that was very far from being a toxic culture,” she said, saying CBI board analysis which drew a direct link from a toxic culture to assaults on women “is fundamentally unfounded and has let down the organisation and let down the people who led it through the years I was there.” The issue, she added, “is about men behaving badly towards women.” Meanwhile, John Allan is stepping down as chairman of Tesco following allegations over his conduct. Allan, who is also a former president of the CBI, has strongly denied three of four claims made against him. However, board member Byron Grote, who will temporarily replace Allan as chairman, said: “These allegations risk becoming a distraction to Tesco.” Tesco said it had made “no findings of wrongdoing.”’