Moncef Slaoui, a former GlaxoSmithKline executive, speaks with President Donald J. Trump during a vaccine development event in the Rose Garden at the White House on Friday, May 15, 2020 in Washington, DC.
Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images
Moncef Slaoui, who headed Covid vaccination development efforts under the Trump administration, said Wednesday he was “deeply sorry” to a woman whose claim of sexual harassment led to his ouster earlier in the day as chairman of a company backed by pharmaceuticals giant GlaxoSmithKline.
Slaoui also said he was taking a leave of absence from his multiple professional roles at drug companies and other ventures to focus on his family, to whom he also apologized.
The 61-year-old Slaoui, who spent 30 years at GSK, from last May until January had been chief scientist for Operation Warp Speed, the U.S. government’s project to develop vaccines for the coronavirus pandemic.
On Wednesday, GSK said its board had fired him a chairman of Galvani Biolelectronics because of “substantiated” allegations he sexually harassed and had inappropriate conduct toward a female employee at GSK several years ago. The woman had made the allegations in a letter sent to GSK in February, which were investigated by the law firm Morgan, Lewis & Bokius.
Slaoui, in his statement late Wednesday said, “It is with deep regret that I acknowledge today’s statement from GlaxoSmithKline plc regarding my termination as Chair of the Galvani Board of Directors.”
“I have the utmost respect for my colleagues and feel terrible that my actions have put a former colleague in an uncomfortable situation. I would like to apologise unreservedly to the employee concerned and I am deeply sorry for any distress caused,” he said.
“I would also like to apologise to my wife and family for the pain this is causing,” Slaoui said.
“I will work hard to redeem myself with all those that this situation has impacted.I am taking a leave of absence from my current professional responsibilities effective immediately, to focus on my family.”
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