Deloitte investigation clears Dimple Agarwal of bullying allegations

THE deputy UK chief executive of Deloitte, Dimple Agarwal, stepped down from her leadership roles, the company said on Friday (5).

“After two years on the executive and making a significant contribution to the firm’s people and purpose agenda, Dimple will be stepping down from her leadership roles. We’re grateful for what she’s achieved during her tenure," Richard Houston, Deloitte’s UK chief executive, told The Telegraph.

Agarwal joined Deloitte in 2004 in its 'human capital consulting” division. She was appointed as a deputy chief executive in 2019 and led the firm’s efforts to improve gender and ethnic diversity, including its recent Black Action Plan, and LGBT representation.

She launched Deloitte's policy on paid leave for 'non-birthing parents' in 2019 and said increasing the benefit was 'part of our commitment to inclusion, where we are creating an environment of respect, dignity and belonging for all'.

Last year, she is reported to have said the 'physical and mental wellbeing' of employees during lockdown was a priority for Deloitte.

However, Agarwal, 49, allegedly faced complaints from some members of staff over allegations she communicated aggressively and demanded that workers attend extremely early morning meetings. According to media reports, more than a dozen complaints were submitted against her and an internal investigation was launched.

Following the investigation, Deloitte said "there were no findings of bullying and Dimple Agarwal did not, as a result, resign or retire at that time from the firm".

Deloitte was handed a record £15 million fine by a tribunal in September for serious misconduct in its audit of software firm Autonomy between 2009 and 2011. It was also ordered to pay £5.6m in costs to the Financial Reporting Council, the industry regulator, and to explain why its compliance systems did not stop 'serious and serial failures'.

The Big Four accountants - Deloitte, KPMG, PwC and EY - have come under scrutiny over whether they are fit for purpose after failing to flag problems at companies that later collapsed, including outsourcer Carillion and travel company Thomas Cook.

Last month, Bill Michael stepped down as chairman of KPMG after comments he made on a staff video call.