After first pledging to stay on, the chief executive of the Humane Society resigned Friday over allegations that he sexually harassed several female subordinates.
Wayne Pacelle, who joined the animal charity in 2004, stepped down effective immediately after the organization's 31-member board faced backlash over its decision Thursday to keep him on the job.
The picture of Pacelle as a compassionate animal protector was tarnished after the board contracted with an outside law firm to investigate complaints from three women who alleged that he had sexually harassed them. One accuser claimed that Pacelle once tried to masturbate in front of her and another said he once forcefully came on to her and offered to give her oral sex.
Pacelle could not be reached for comment. In a staff email obtained by The New York Times, Pacelle told employees that he decided to resign because "our mission depends on unity."
Pacelle has denied the accusations against him.
Seven Humane Society board members resigned in protest after the organization's leadership decided Thursday to close the investigation into Pacelle's conduct and keep him on as CEO.
The charity, which is one of the country's largest focusing on fighting animal cruelty, subsequently faced backlash from donors, who threatened to pull their support.
Those threats evidently prompted a change of heart.
Kitty Block, president of the Humane Society's international affiliate, will take over as the organization's CEO, board chairman Rick Bernthal said.
