Fairfax has confirmed the complaint against ex-Domain boss Antony Catalano which alleged the company’s culture resembled a “boy’s club”, according to The Australian.
It is the first time Fairfax has acknowledged the complaints, with the company previously declining to comment on the allegations.
Catalano resigned from Domain in January to “put his family first”, but since then, reports have alleged he oversaw a sexist culture and accused him of misconduct.
Fairfax said in a statement sent to The Australian that acting executive chairman Nick Falloon received “formal allegations” about Domain in December.
The statement was sent in response to questions about whether Fairfax chief executive Greg Hywood had any knowledge of the allegations about Domain’s culture before December, when the company was a fully owned Fairfax subsidiary.
A spokesman for Fairfax said: “No formal allegations were received prior to the formal allegations that were received by the Domain chairman in late December 2017. After due process, these formal allegations were raised with Mr Catalano in January.
“Mr Catalano denied the allegations.
“Mr Catalano resigned and the market was informed that Domain had accepted his resignation and had commenced a global search for his successor.
“Domain and Fairfax are both committed to ensuring a safe and welcoming workplace and will not tolerate anything that does not meet its high standards.”
Catalano has reportedly engaged high-profile media and defamation lawyer, Mark O’Brien, to defend himself against the stories.
Fairfax could not be contacted ahead of publishing.
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