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Ford president leaves the company over ‘inappropriate behavior’

Ford president leaves the company over ‘inappropriate behavior’

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An internal investigation found behavior ‘inconsistent with the company’s code of conduct’

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Ford Motor Company President Raj Nair is leaving the company “effective immediately” after an internal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behavior. “Certain behavior by Nair was inconsistent with the company’s code of conduct,” the company writes in a statement. No further specifics were given about which parts of the company’s code of conduct were violated.

“We made this decision after a thorough review and careful consideration,” Ford CEO Jim Hackett said in a statement. “Ford is deeply committed to providing and nurturing a safe and respectful culture and we expect our leaders to fully uphold these values.”

Nair had been with the company for 31 years, and in 2017 was named to the position of president of North American operations. He had previously served as the company’s CTO, and also ran Ford’s global product development. Nair was broadly in charge of the company’s most ambitious technology efforts, like its attempt to create on-demand mobility services, and its push toward self-driving cars.

“I sincerely regret that there have been instances where I have not exhibited leadership behaviors consistent with the principles that the Company and I have always espoused,” Nair said in the company’s statement. “I continue to have the utmost faith in the people of Ford Motor Company and wish them continued success in the future.”

This is the second high-profile response to misconduct that Hackett has had to issue in his short tenure as CEO. Days after a New York Times investigative report revealed in December repeated claims of sexual harassment and abuse at two of the company’s factories in Chicago, Hackett released an open letter to employees that asked for employees to speak up about their own experiences.