Leslie Moonves stepped down as CEO of CBS on September 9, 2018, following multiple allegations of sexual harassment. Moonves had served as CEO of CBS since 2006, and his departure marks a major shift in the culture of the company. The resignation comes after Ronan Farrow reported on numerous allegations of sexual misconduct against Moonves in the July 2018 edition of The New Yorker.
In response to the allegations, CBS initially appointed two independent law firms to conduct an investigation into the allegations. The investigation reportedly uncovered additional allegations of sexual harassment and other forms of misconduct, as well as efforts to cover up these actions. This led to a vote by the CBS board of directors to remove Moonves, citing "violations of company policies related to harassment, discrimination and retaliation."
In a statement, Moonves acknowledged that he had "made mistakes" throughout his career, but denied some of the more serious allegations. He also said that he regretted "the pain and anguish this has caused my family."
In the wake of Moonves' departure, multiple high-profile individuals have spoken out about sexual harassment in the corporate world, urging other companies to take similar steps to remove accused harassers. Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey have praised CBS' decision, writing on Twitter that "it takes brave and decisive action to ensure violations of power and abuse of authority are addressed and not tolerated."
The Moonves resignation also has the potential to affect the ongoing legal battle between CBS and its parent company, National Amusements, over whether or not National Amusements can control the future of CBS. Moonves was seen as a key player in that battle, so his departure could have major implications for how the case is resolved.
The Moonves resignation also reflects broader changes taking place in the corporate world. In recent years, there has been a heightened focus on workplace harassment and an increasing awareness of the need for companies to take a proactive stance on addressing the issue. In the wake of the #MeToo movement, companies have begun to take a more aggressive approach to rooting out and punishing accused harassers, and Moonves' resignation is an example of the potential consequences of inappropriate employee behavior.
The Moonves resignation has also prompted many companies to re-examine their policies on sexual harassment. Many companies have adopted "zero tolerance" policies on harassment, and many are now also launching independent investigations and taking other initiatives to address the issue.
Overall, Moonves' resignation is a sign that cultural change is possible, even in the traditionally male-dominated corporate world. While there is still much progress to be made, companies are now taking proactive steps to address the issue of sexual harassment, and the Moonves resignation is emblematic of this change in workplace culture.
