Arunabh Kumar: "I Have Decided to Step Down as TVF CEO"
Arunabh Kumar, CEO of The Viral Fever (TVF), announced on Friday that he was stepping down from his post, a month after he was embroiled in a sexual harassment case. While TVF initially denied these claims, the company had set up a committee to look into these allegations after a deluge of similar allegations by multiple women.
He revealed the news through a note posted on Twitter, “A lot has happened in the last three months which has mentally and emotionally drained me. However, I have faith and confidence that eventually truth will prevail,” said Kumar.
“In the wake of the recent personal attacks, what really breaks me is the blemish on the brand’s true promise. I have therefore taken the decision to step down as the CEO of TVF,” he wrote further.
Kumar was granted interim bail in April. Although, Mumbai police had filed a 275-page chargesheet against Kumar last month, according to a TOI report.
A woman had complained that during her time at TVF, Kumar came close to her and touched her in a way that made her uncomfortable. Kumar, who is out on bail, had claimed that he was falsely implicated in the case. A chargesheet has been filed against Anurabh Kumar, under Sections 354, 354A (sexual harassment) and 509 (outraging the modesty of a woman) under the Indian Penal Code.
Tiger Global-backed The Viral Fever (TVF) soon after announced, that they have appointed Dhawal Gusain, as the new chief executive officer. Gusain takes over from founder Arunabh Kumar who has stepped down from this role.
Dhawal Gusain has been with TVF since 2015 as COO. Prior to this, Dhawal has been in leadership and management roles across various sectors and geographies with over a decade of industry experience. He has earlier worked at companies like Hindustan Unilever, DropThought and PwC's 'Strategy&' (formerly Booz & Company).
