Marchant’s departure follows an investigation into an allegation made against him after his behaviour towards a woman in a social environment.
Paul Marchant has resigned as CEO of Primark, according to the retailer’s parent, Associated British Foods (ABF). Eoin Tonge, ABF’s Finance Director, has stepped in to serve as Primark’s Chief Executive on an interim basis and will be working with its senior Primark and Strategic Advisory Board. Joana Edwards, ABF’s Group Financial Controller, will serve as interim ABF Finance Director.
As both Primark and ABF say in a statement, Paul Marchant’s resignation follows an investigation, initiated by ABF and conducted by external counsel, into an unidentified woman’s allegation about “his behaviour towards her in a social environment.” Having cooperated with the investigation, Marchant has “acknowledged his error of judgement, accepted ”that his actions fell below the standards expected by ABF” and apologized to the woman, the ABF Board, his Primark colleagues and “others connected to the business.”
