London zoo boss quits amid claims of unacceptable workplace behaviour'

"In a letter to staff, ZSL's chair of trustees, Jim Smith, wrote that an investigation into claims of unacceptable workplace behaviour found that Matthew Gould's conduct fell below the standard we expect. He resigned before this investigation had concluded. We are committed to living up to our values at every level of the organisation and ensuring a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace for everyone."

"This investigation was not related to ZSL's financial operations. This matter was addressed promptly and appropriately, and there are no wider implications for our staff or operations. We are not sharing any further details on an internal matter. The spokesperson added: ZSL's work continues unchanged and we are committed to maintaining a culture that lives up to our values and ensuring the organisation continues to be a supportive and respectful place to work."

Matthew Gould, a former diplomat and close friend of George Osborne, resigned as chief executive of the Zoological Society of London after an investigation found his workplace conduct fell below expected standards. The resignation occurred before the investigation concluded. ZSL chair Jim Smith said the executive director had stepped in as interim chief executive and emphasized leadership with honesty, integrity and accountability. ZSL confirmed the matter was not related to financial operations and said it had been addressed promptly with no wider implications for staff or operations. ZSL faces financial pressure ahead of its bicentennial and launched a voluntary redundancy scheme to save £2m.

Read at www.theguardian.com