Some CBS Corp. directors discussed over the weekend whether Chief Executive Leslie Moonves should step aside from the company pending its investigation into allegations he sexually harassed women, according to people familiar with the matter.
The board of CBS CBS, -6.12% , which is scheduled to meet via conference call this Monday in advance of its second quarter earnings announcement Thursday, is expected to select a special committee to oversee the investigation. The board intends to make a broad inquiry into CBS’s workplace culture, not just the alleged behavior of Moonves, the people said.
The investigation is in response to a New Yorker article published Friday, in which six women who had professional dealings with Moonves between the 1980s and late 2000s claimed he sexually harassed them. The story carried accusations that CBS tolerates systemic harassment against women.
“I think the board realizes as a whole that this is a very, very, very serious situation. While there is an important Les piece to this, really, more important to the company as a whole is that this raises serious issues with regard to culture and harassment throughout the company,” said one person familiar with the matter.
An expanded version of this report appears on WSJ.com.
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