LOS ANGELES, United States — Guess’ Paul Marciano resigned as chairman of the company he co-founded after a probe of sexual-harassment allegations by women including model Kate Upton.
Marciano and Guess reached non-confidential settlement agreements with five individuals totalling $500,000 to avoid “the cost of litigation and without admitting liability or fault,” according to a company filing Tuesday. Marciano will remain on the company’s board.
The allegations included claims of “inappropriate comments and texts, and unwanted advances including kissing and groping,” the company said in a filing. It said investigators interviewed more than 40 people and reviewed approximately 1.5 million pages of documents.
Investigators concluded that though not all allegations could be corroborated, Marciano put himself in situations where such allegations might occur.
“The investigation found that on certain occasions Mr. Marciano exercised poor judgement in his communications with models and photographers and in placing himself in situations in which plausible allegations of improper conduct could, and did, arise,” the company said.
By Lisa Wolfson and Kim Bhasin; editor: Anne Riley Moffat.
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How Guess Mismanaged Its #MeToo Crisis
Guess Co-Founder Paul Marciano Gives Up Daily Duties Amid Probe for Improper Conduct
https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/guess-chairman-paul-marciano-resigns-following-harassment-probe
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