Intel CEO out after probe finds past relationship with employee
NEW YORK — Intel CEO Brian Krzanich resigned after the company learned of what it called a past, consensual relationship with an employee.
Intel said Thursday that the relationship was in violation of the company’s non- fraternization policy, which applies to all managers. Spokesman William Moss said Intel has had the policy in place for “many years.” He declined to comment further.
Chief Financial Officer Robert Swan will take over as interim CEO immediately. A search for a new CEO is underway.
In this # MeToo era, corporate America is under intense pressure to enforce workplace policies on gender equality and sexual harassment. Even relationships that appear consensual are closely scrutinized — and often prohibited by companies — if they involve a power imbalance such as the one between a manager and an employee.
This month, Guess Inc. co- founder Paul Marciano stepped down following a company investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and assault.
John Lasseter, co- founder of Pixar Animation Studios and Walt Disney’s animation chief, also recently said he was resigning over what he called “missteps” with employees.
Years before # MeToo, the CEO of Hewlett- Packard Co., Mark Hurd, was ousted following accusations of sexual harassment by a female contract worker. Hurd settled with the woman in 2010.
In 2012, Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn re- signed abruptly after the company launched an internal investigation into what the company called his “personal conduct” unrelated to Best Buy’s business. An audit later revealed the issue was an “extremely close personal relationship with a female employee.”
The male- dominated tech industry has been a hotbed for allegations of harassment and discrimination, and in some ways foreshadowed # MeToo as female employees be- gan speaking out. In February 2017, former Uber engineer Susan Fowler wrote an explosive, detailed blog post about the culture of systemic harassment and abuse that she experienced at the ride- hailing company. It wasn’t until the fall that # MeToo began taking off.
Krzanich joined Intel Corp. in 1982 as an engineer and rose through the ranks until he became CEO in 2013.