The financier Sir Evelyn de Rothschild left the bank that bears his family name in 2004 after an investigation into a sexual misconduct complaint, it has emerged.
Staff at Rothschild & Co were told on Wednesday that the late banker, who was a financial adviser to Queen Elizabeth II, left in March 2004 after the complaint in late 2003.
The Guardian revealed on Tuesday that several women had accused De Rothschild, who died two years ago, of exploiting his position at the bank to abuse them while they worked with him. Among the allegations are that he seriously sexually assaulted and harassed several women in the mid and late 1990s when they worked for NM Rothschild.
Prior to publication of the Guardian’s story lawyers acting for Rothschild & Co, the banking and financial services group that succeeded NM Rothschild, repeatedly refused to answer whether there was information related to misconduct by De Rothschild of any kind.
They were also asked specific questions about the alleged events in the 1990s.
They stated that an “initial review of their records for the periods up to ‘the late 1990s’ has revealed nothing”, but also said they did not have enough information to investigate further.
However, on Tuesday, staff at the investment bank were sent an email that confirmed De Rothschild had been subject of a complaint about sexual misconduct in late 2003. The email was first reported by the Daily Telegraph.
“Some of you may be aware of an article that was published by the Guardian yesterday,” staff were told.
“We are naturally appalled by any allegation of conduct that is so at odds with the culture we strive to foster within the group, even if it was several decades ago. No colleague should be subjected to inappropriate sexual behaviour.
“Before this article was published, the Guardian contacted us requesting information on some unspecific claims from the 1990s. We repeatedly tried to engage with them to establish the facts.
“Despite the difficulties in investigating claims which are alleged to have taken place almost 30 years ago, we made extensive inquiries and conducted a thorough search of our internal records and found nothing that would support the allegations from this period.
“We discovered a single complaint of sexual misconduct in late 2003. This case was investigated immediately, dealt with appropriately, with full support for the colleague concerned, and led to Sir Evelyn de Rothschild leaving the group in March 2004.
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“We have found no record of any other complaint relating to Sir Evelyn. We do not tolerate and will never tolerate behaviour of this nature at the company. We work hard to create an environment in which all can thrive, and we encourage the highest standards of professionalism.”
De Rothschild, who died aged 91, was chair of NM Rothschild for more than 20 years and also served on the boards of the Economist and the parent company of the Daily Telegraph. A scion of one of the most famous dynasties in global banking, he spent 44 years working within Rothschild family businesses.
According to sources who spoke to the Guardian, he used his office within NM Rothschild, a stone’s throw from the Bank of England in the City of London, to force himself upon women over several years.
The claims include serious sexual assaults. One included a violent assault of a member of staff when she was a young woman working for him. Another allegation is that he put his hands down a different woman’s top and under her underwear to grope her. And a third woman claimed she was forced to perform a sex act on him while he sat on his desk.
Rothschild & Co did not respond to a request for comment.
Article by:Source: Anna Isaac City editor
