Uber executive already punished for alleged sexual misconduct resigns

The head of corporate development at Uber resigned on October 22 barely a month after it was revealed that the ride-hailing company had investigated and punished the firm’s top deal maker, Cameron Poetzscher, following allegations of sexual misconduct that had been leveled against him.

Whereas Uber has not confirmed the reasons for Mr. Poetzscher’s resignation, the company said that chief finance officer Nelson Chai will oversee the duties of the departed head of corporate development in the interim.

Mr. Poetzscher’s resignation adds to the growing number of executives who have departed Uber since February last year when a former engineer wrote a blog post claiming a toxic culture of sexual harassment and gender bias at the company.

Within the first few months, 14 executives including Head of Finance, Head of Communications and President left Uber, albeit all for different reasons. In June of 2017, the company told its workers that 20 employees had been fired following a probe that was looking into allegations of sexual misconduct.

The case of Mr. Poetzscher is unique in that it comes after Wall Street Journal broke a story in late September that claimed the Uber exec had been reprimanded following investigations into his conduct.

WSJ said that Uber ordered Mr. Poetzscher to undergo sensitivity coaching in November 2017, as well as reducing his bonus. The reprimand came after an outside law firm had looked into allegations against him, although the probe did not recommend firing him.

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An outside law firm had reportedly found some substance to allegations against Mr. Poetzscher of him having made sexually suggestive comments such as noting which co-workers he would like to have sex with. He had also reportedly had  a consensual affair with an employee, even with him being a married man.

Fortune noted that in 2015, Mr. Poetzscher and his wife settled a case out of court with their nanny who had alleged underpayment, long working hours and sexual behaviour and requests from Mr. Poetzscher.

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