C-Suite conduct | UK biotech firm sacks CEO for having relationships with employees

A British biotech firm has sacked its CEO after an investigation found he had engaged in relationships with two employees.

Exscientia confirmed it had dismissed CEO Dr Andrew Hopkins with immediate effect after the situation came to light. The company’s chairman has also quit, after it was revealed he’d previously been aware of one of the relationships.

Exscientia said a special committee of its board had engaged an outside counsel to look into Hopkins' conduct.

In a regulatory filing statement, the company announced: “The Board’s decision was taken following an investigation which found that Dr. Hopkins had engaged in relationships with two employees that the Board determined were inappropriate and inconsistent with the Company’s standards and values.”