Guess co-founder quits following sexual harassment review

Washington D.C. [USA], June 13 (ANI): After being probed for sexual harassment, Guess co-founder Paul Marciano has resigned as executive chairman of the board.

He will be replaced by his brother Maurice Marciano.

According to a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing made by the company, allegations against Marciano included "claims of inappropriate comments and texts, and unwanted advances including kissing and groping," reports The Hollywood Reporter.

It continued, "Investigators interviewed more than 40 people and reviewed approximately 1.5 million pages of documents, including emails, human resources and legal department files, social media messages, video and audio recordings, photographs, travel itineraries, calendar entries, agreements, invoices and financial records."

"The investigation found that on certain occasions (Paul) Marciano exercised poor judgment in his communications with models and photographers and in placing himself in situations in which plausible allegations of improper conduct could, and did, arise," the filing said.

Guess paid a total of USD 500,000 in settlements to five women "to avoid the cost of litigation and without admitting liability or fault."

Meanwhile, actress and model Kate Upton, in February accused Marciano of sexually harassing women in the fashion industry.

Taking to both Twitter and Instagram, the 25-year-old had written, "It's disappointing that such an iconic women's brand @Guess is still empowering Paul Marciano as their creative director metoo."

She had continued, "He shouldn't be allowed to use his power in the industry to sexually and emotionally harass women metoo."

However, Marciano had denied the model's allegations, calling them "absolutely false" and "preposterous." (ANI)