Pakistan

Afiniti CEO Zia Chishti steps down after sexual assault allegations

The board will make additional organisational announcements in the coming days, says a statement by Afiniti

News Desk November 19, 2021

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.

WATCH: Tatiana Spottiswoode shares her devastating story of the workplace sexual violence she experienced and the subsequent, secret arbitration process she was forced to endure. #EndForcedArbitration pic.twitter.com/eRmhEURMob
— House Judiciary Dems (@HouseJudiciary) November 16, 2021

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.

COMMENTS (2)

Muhammad Tariq Jalal | 3 years ago | Reply Ex Employee Afiniti Look at the BIGGER picture. Zia chisti was founder of Align Tech now a 40 billion company . He was thrown out in the wake of 9 11. later got a settlement of 29M but was ousted. Now when Afiniti is in line to be a top AI company in the world and standing with the likes of Google and facebook a Monica Lewinsky was thrown at him and everything crumbles. They will never let a Pakistan get that spot ...NEVER. I ve worked in Afiniti and its one of the safest place for women to work even in night shifts . Everyone loves and respects Zia. He doesnt have a reputation close to what is claimed nor do the top management. All Lies. Lets support him instead of making money out of this.

Amna | 3 years ago | Reply All that is good and well but its usually good form to leave the neighbourhood where someone is harassing you instead of sticking around and then rolling into their bedroom. Chishti ought to be good and punished but what about her greed-driven decision to stick around Yes a crime was committed against her this is not victim shaming but when she saw that a crime was going to be committed against her she had FIVE years to leave but she didnt.

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