The multimillionaire founder of a software company that employs Princess Beatrice stepped down last night after a female member of staff accused him of attacking her in harrowing testimony to the US Congress.
Following the publication of the allegations, Beatrice now faces the possibility of being asked to follow David Cameron, who quit the firm as an advisor.
Prince Andrew’s eldest daughter, 33, is vice president of strategy and partnerships at Afiniti, where boss Zia Chisti, 50, has been accused of pressuring a female employee into sex, and allegedly beating her during a sexual encounter.
Tatiana Spottiswoode – a 28-year old former employee – claims Mr Chishti abused her at 21. He then forced her to sex, assaulted, and cut her.
She provided evidence regarding the alleged attack on the US Congress, and also submitted photos of her injuries.
Zia Chishti allegedly harassed, threatened and sexually assaulted female staff member Tatiana Spottiswoode, 28
Princess Beatrice (33), is Vice President of Strategy and Partnerships at Afiniti. She’s under increasing pressure to quit.
In a statement last night an Afiniti spokesman said: ‘The Board of Directors of Afiniti, Ltd. (“Afiniti”) announces that Mr. Zia Chishti has stepped down from his role as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Afiniti, effective immediately. The Board will make additional organizational announcements in the coming days.’
Earlier an Afiniti spokesman said Mr Chishti ‘strongly disputes all accusations against him’.
David Cameron announced he would leave his role with the firm immediately after learning of the accusations against Mr Chishti, despite the entrepreneur’s denial of the allegations.
Mr Cameron joined the company’s advisory board in 2019, two years after the alleged assault against Miss Spottiswoode and his spokesman said he had ‘absolutely no knowledge’ of the allegations until her evidence to the US Congress committee on Tuesday.
Many major companies have indicated that they are reviewing their relationship with the company.
Multimillionaire entrepreneur, Mr Chishti founded Initi, which offers artificial intelligence technology for call centre calls, in 2005. Its headquarters is in Bermuda, an international tax haven.
Ms Spottiswoode stated that she had met Mr Chishti when she, or her 13-year-old self, was in the 12th grade. Then she met him again while she was at Columbia Law School.
According to her, she told the committee that Chishti invited her on a skiing trip when she was in her senior year at college. She was 43 years old. When I turned 21, it was 21.
“I declined initially, but he insists that I meet his nephew who is also a philosopher. I accepted. Later, I learned that my nephew didn’t show up.
The trip was intended to groom me. Chishti explained to me that he felt for me, and also showed me his extravagant lifestyle.
Ms Spottiswoode described a toxic workplace, saying that he “ocellated between pressing me for sex or punishing me.”
Ms Spottiswoode showed photos of Mr Chishti’s bruises on her neck.
Ms Spottiswoode stated that although she initially rejected him, she eventually fell in love with him approximately five times within ten weeks. Then they split up.
“Months later Chishti encouraged [me] to join his business. It was an excellent career opportunity that he presented to me. His words were convincing. Chishti stated that he had not expected a relationship with me sexually.
She stated that she signed an arbitration agreement with strong confidentiality when she joined Spottiswoode’s company in 2016.
He allegedly manipulated her for sex, and then punished me. She described the toxic environment at work.
“During a Dubai office meeting, he placed his hands underneath my pants and grabbed me in front my coworkers,” she stated.
Ms. Spottiswoode then described another Brazil work trip.
David Cameron (55), joined Afiniti in 2019 as chairman of the advisory board, two years after the incident. Cameron has since resigned.
‘I avoided him as much I could, however, I was being put under more pressure by him. She said that she began to fear that Chishti, in addition wanting sex with me, wanted to punish me and hurt me.
“I felt trapped and helpless. I was 23, and far away from my family.
‘I didn’t want my job to be lost, I didn’t want him getting any angrier. I went into his room and he beat me, while I had sex.
I told him he was causing me pain, and he responded, “Good.” When I was 13, he said he ought to have sex.
I hid in my hotel bedroom until my next flight. My body was covered in scratches, cuts, contusions.
“I was afflicted by bruises on my neck, which looked as though I’d been strangled. There was also a bump on the top of my head and black eyes. According to a nurse, I suffered from the signs of concussion.
Lawyer Harriet Wistrich, the founder of the Centre for Women’s Justice, had said Mr Chishti should ‘consider his position’ and that executives such as Princess Beatrice should do the same.
Former England rugby star Will Greenwood, Prince Harry’s friend Thomas Inskip and Winston Churchill’s great-grandson Archie Soames are also employed by the company and board members include former Spanish prime minister José María Aznar and Australian banker Rob Rankin.
Princess Beatrice divides her time between the UK and USA in her work for the company. She has also represented the company in major events, such as Davos’ annual meeting of global leaders.
She is currently on maternity leave but has previously described the business as being ‘on the cutting edge of artificial intelligence’ and praised it for ‘working to build a little bit more of a community’ in the technology industry.
Prince Andrew, the father of her daughter is currently being sued in civil court for separate allegations of sexual abuse against him. The claims are related to his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. He denied any wrongdoing.