Afiniti CEO Zia Chishti steps down after sexual assault allegations

Zia Chishti, the founder of software company Afiniti, has stepped down from his role after sexual assault allegations against him. 

"The Board of Directors of Afiniti, Ltd. announces that Mr. Zia Chishti has stepped down from his role as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Afiniti, effective immediately," said a statement on the company's website. 

"The board will make additional organisational announcements in the coming days," added the company statement. 

Afiniti, which is based in Bermuda, provides call centre technology to clients and also employs Britain's Princess Beatrice, as vice-president of strategy and partnerships at the firm.

"In regards to the claims made against our CEO and chairman Zia Chishti, we take any allegations of this nature extremely seriously," said a spokesperson of the company while speaking to Sky News.

"Mr Chishti strongly disputes all accusations against him."

The development comes after a former employee of the company, Tatiana Spottiswoode, testified before a US congressional committee.

Spottiswoode told the hearing that after joining the company in April 2016, it became clear Chisti "was not willing to treat me like an employee".

"Instead, over the next 18 months he oscillated between pressuring me for sex and punishing me," she said.

"When I rebuffed him he humiliated me in front of co-workers and then ignored me completely, causing me to fear for my job," she added during the congressional hearing. 

"Afiniti has investigated Tatiana Spottiswoode's claims with independent counsel and concluded that the arbitral decision she references was erroneous," added the spokesperson. 

Former British prime minister, David Cameron, also quit his role in Affiniti after the allegations surfaced.

Cameron was chairman of the firm's advisory board. A spokesperson for Cameron said he had "absolutely no knowledge" of the claims till they surfaced in the hearing. 

"Mr Cameron understands that the allegations are disputed, but disagrees with the approach being taken by the company in responding to the matter," a statement said.

"Mr Cameron has therefore resigned as chairman of the company's advisory board with immediate effect," added the statement.