Harrods Apologizes for Past Misconduct Under Mohamed Al Fayed

Harrods' managing director Michael Ward apologized for the department store's failure to protect employees from late owner Mohamed Al Fayed's alleged sexual misconduct. Al Fayed, who died in 2022, is accused by several women of rape and assault. The store has set up a settlement process for victims.

The managing director of Harrods, Michael Ward, issued a public apology on Thursday, expressing the company's deep regret for failing employees who allege they were sexually assaulted by the late Mohamed Al Fayed, the store's former owner.

Ward acknowledged that Al Fayed fostered a toxic culture of secrecy, intimidation, fear of repercussion, and sexual misconduct. The BBC reported claims from five women stating they were raped by Al Fayed, with additional accusations of assault and physical violence surfacing. Lawyers representing the victims revealed they have been retained by 37 women, with the number expected to rise.

Though Ward was unaware of Al Fayed's criminal actions during his four-year tenure, he noted that rumors of Al Fayed's behavior were publicly known. Al Fayed owned Harrods for 25 years before selling it to Qatar's sovereign wealth fund in 2010. In a statement, Ward conveyed that a settlement process for Al Fayed's victims has been established and emphasized that the current Harrods' environment significantly differs from the era under Al Fayed's ownership.

(With inputs from agencies.)