IoD chairwoman Lady Barbara Judge suspended after reports of misconduct, confirms business group

Earlier in the week, reports surfaced that Lady Judge was being accused of making racist and sexist slurs and bullying other IoD staff members

One of the UK’s most prominent business groups has confirmed that it has suspended chairwoman Lady Barbara Judge, after reports surfaced that an investigation had been launched into alleged misconduct.

In a short statement, the influential Institute of Directors (IoD) said on Friday that its council had taken the decision following an executive summary of an investigation conducted by law firm Hill Dickinson.

Earlier in the week, reports emerged Lady Judge was being accused of making racist and sexist slurs and bullying other IoD staff members.

The IoD is known as a promoter of good corporate governance practices and frequently criticises and calls out other organisations and companies for falling short in this area.

It on Thursday confirmed that senior independent council member Dame Joan Stringer had commissioned a full investigation into the allegations.The council discussed the report on Thursday afternoon.

Lady Judge was awarded a CBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2010 for services to the nuclear and financial services industries. In the same year, she was also named in BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour 100 Most Powerful Women list.

She has served as chairwoman of the Pension Protection Fund and became the first female chair of the IoD in 2015.

On Wednesday night, Lady Judge reportedly said that she would temporarily step down to contest the allegations and she was understood to have hired City law firm Addleshaw Goddard to represent her.