Dr. Moncef Slaoui speaks with President Donald J. Trump about “Operation Warp Speed” in the Rose Garden at the White House on Friday, Nov 13, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images
Moncef Slaoui, who was chief scientist for the U.S. federal government’s Covid vaccine development effort Operation Warp Speed during the Trump administration, was fired as chairman of the board of directors of Galvani Bioelectronics over allegations of sexual harassment, it was revealed Wednesday.
Slaoui ‘s firing, announced by the board of Galvani majority shareholder GlaxoSmithKline, came after receipt of a letter by the company “containing allegations of sexual harassment and inappropriate conduct towards an employee of GSK by Dr. Slaoui, which occurred several years ago when he was an employee of GSK,” Glaxo said.
“Upon receipt of the letter, the GSK Board immediately initiated an investigation with an experienced law firm to investigate the allegations,” the statement by GSK said.
“The investigation of Dr. Slaoui’s conduct substantiated the allegations and is ongoing.”
GSK said in its statement: “Dr. Slaoui’s behaviours are wholly unacceptable.”
“They represent an abuse of his leadership position, violate company policies, and are contrary to the strong values that define GSK’s culture,” the statement said. “The company expects everyone at GSK to behave in accordance with its values, especially its leaders where its standards are the highest. Sexual harassment and any abuse of leadership position are strictly prohibited and will not be tolerated.”
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