Leon Black’s surprise resignation from the Apollo Global Management board last month came days after several directors on the private equity giant’s board heard about allegations of sexual harassment against him by a woman he said was trying to seduce him. shakes over a ‘consensus issue’, “The Post learned.
Black was already on the verge of retiring as Apollo CEO by the end of July, when he unexpectedly announced on March 22 that he would be stepping down as CEO and chairman immediately.
Black – who Apollo revealed earlier this year paid millions to dead pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein following 2008’s conviction for acquiring a minor girl for prostitution – called his wife’s ailments health and his own health problems for the sudden change a plan.
Neither Black nor Apollo mentioned at the time that days before the resignation, at least four of Apollo’s 12 board members became aware of a series of little-noticed people. but explosive tweets by Güzel Ganieva, a former model who claims he was ‘forced to sign an NDA in 2015’ in relation to allegations that Swart ‘sexually harassed and abused’ her, according to sources close to the situation.
In a statement to The Post, Black admits that he knows Ganieva, but denies that he acted inappropriately towards her.
“I foolishly had an agreement with Ms Ganieva that ended more than seven years ago,” Black said in his statement. “Any allegation of harassment or any other inappropriate behavior towards her has been completely fabricated.”
He also denied that her allegations influenced his decision to step down from the company faster than planned. In January, Black announced that he would remain chairman after resigning as chief executive on July 31.
‘It’s entirely a personal matter; this case has nothing to do with Apollo or my decision to step down from the firm. ‘
Black added that he believes he is being “blackmailed” by Ganieva for allegedly making a substantial monetary payment to her based on her threats to make our relationship public, in an attempt to embarrass my family. save. ‘
The billionaire said he had referred the case to “the criminal authorities” on the recommendation of his lawyer and welcomed a thorough investigation. ‘
It remains unclear whether any of Black’s allegations against Ganieva would amount to criminal action, and there is no indication that the charges are being filed or considered.
Ganieva did not immediately respond to Black’s extortion claims. Ganieva said she signed a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, in 2015 that was aimed at “keeping her quiet” but not expanding on the terms or whether she received a monetary benefit.
“Although I’m a private person, I think I have an obligation to make a statement regarding Apollo Global Management CEO and chairman Leon Black,” the first of her tweets began on March 17. ‘I was sexually harassed and abused by him for years.
“It started in 2008 when I met him to discuss work,” Ganieva continued. ‘While he understood my career aspirations, he could not understand me when I refused his sexual advances. I was bullied, manipulated, threatened and forced. ”
Ganieva did not want to provide a copy of the NDA. A second source who is aware of the matter agrees that an NDA has been signed but refuses to expand it.
NDAs have become a focal point in the #MeToo movement, with commentators claiming to have become a tool to protect powerful men from allegations of abuse.
“I’m breaking my silence now because I do not want this kind of robbery to continue with other women,” Ganieva said in her third and final tweet, which has been posted on Twitter since Thursday.
In an exclusive interview with The Post earlier this week, ahead of Black’s allegations of extortion, Ganieva claims that Black’s abuse was “over a long period of time and was tragic.”
Ganieva, who emigrated from Russia to the US, said she met Black during a 2008 party in Manhattan when she was 25. He has been trying for some time to help her get a job, she said, but claims he wants favors in return.
Ganieva did not want to talk more specifically about her allegations and said she is not yet comfortable sharing additional details about her allegations.
Among the directors who heard of the tweets were, according to sources, Jay Clayton, the former head of the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission, who was named an independent director of Apollo in a review in January that was intended to cover Apollo’s improve corporate governance.
Clayton did not return a request for comment. An Apollo spokesman declined to comment, noting that Black is no longer with the firm.
Black’s sudden departure from Apollo has been widely reported.
In January, the law firm Dechert found in an investigation for Apollo that he paid Epstein $ 158 million between 2013 and 2017 for tax advice and estate planning services. After the investigation, Black said about his involvement with Epstein that he was only guilty of poor judgment in his dealings with Epstein, and that he did nothing wrong.
‘[There was no] evidence that I have any involvement with Mr. “Epstein’s serious conduct, or that I kept myself busy with any offense,” he said in a letter to Apollo investors.
Four days later, on March 26, Black said he would not be re-elected chairman of the Museum of Modern Art when his term ends on June 30.