Disgraced former David Jones chief has broken his silence to “categorically deny” new allegations about an incident alleged to have occurred during a David Jones function six years ago, and has hit out at the “myths” surrounding his decision to flee Australia late last week.
The statement issued by McInnes was in response to allegations reported by several media outlets of an incident at the Sydney races in 2005.
“I categorically deny a new allegation about an event that has been alleged to have occurred at the David Jones marquee at the Royal Randwick races in 2004, six years ago,” he said.
“It is simply not true and I have appointed Johnson Winter and Slattery to defend me in any court that such a matter could or would be tested.”
McInnes resigned dramatically last Friday after admitting to behaving inappropriately towards a female staff member at two separate functions.
Yesterday, Harmers Workplace Lawyers confirmed it is acting for Kristy Fraser-Kirk, the David Jones employee who made the claims against McInnes and asked for the media to refrain from “pursuing” the young publicist.
McInnes reiterated his apology “for behaving in a manner unbecoming of the high standard expected of a chief executive officer” but hit back at claims that he fled Australia for the French Rivera or a wedding in Italy.
“Contrary to various reports I did not fly out of Australia first class. I have not gone to the French Riviera and have no plans to attend a wedding in Portofino. These myths join the various others that currently abound.”
“What I did was form a view that having made a very honest, very direct apology about my errors of judgment it was the best thing for all concerned for me to leave Australia so that the healing process could begin.”
David Jones also denied the allegations made yesterday, but has appointed an independent investigator to examine any other possible claims about McInnes.
According to a report in The Age, the investigator is a female partner at a major law firm that does not currently work for David Jones.
James was the editor and publisher of SmartCompany and LeadingCompany for five years. He is now the Australian Financial Review‘s companies & markets editor, and a former BRW editor.
