Leon Black’s surprise departure from the helm of Apollo Global Management last month came just days after several executives on the board of the private equity giant learned of allegations of sexual harassment against him by a woman he claimed that he is trying to shake him off a “consensual adventure,” The Post learned.
Black was about to step down as CEO of Apollo by the end of July, when he unexpectedly announced on March 22 that he would step down as CEO and president with immediate effect.
Black – who Apollo revealed earlier this year paid millions to dead pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein following his 2008 convictions for a minor girl for prostitution – cited his wife’s health and his own health problems for change. sudden onset of plans.
Neither Black nor Apollo mentioned at the time that in the days leading up to his resignation, at least four of Apollo’s 12 board members had become aware of a series of but explosive tweets by Güzel Ganieva, a former model who claimed she was “forced to sign an NDA in 2015” regarding allegations that blacks “harassed and sexually abused” her, according to sources close to the situation.
In a statement to The Post, Black admitted that he knew Ganieva, but denied that he had acted inappropriately towards her.
“I had a stupid consensual affair with Mrs. Ganieva that ended more than seven years ago,” Black said in a statement. “Any accusation of harassment or any other inappropriate behavior towards her is completely fabricated.”
He also denied that her accusations influenced his decision to leave the company sooner than planned. In January, Black announced that he would remain president after resigning as CEO on July 31.
“This is entirely a personal matter; this has nothing to do with Apollo or my decision to move away from the company. ”
Black added that he believes he was “extorted” by Ganieva because he “made substantial payments to her, based on her threats to go public about our relationship, in an attempt to relieve my family of public embarrassment.”
The billionaire said he had sent the issue to “criminal authorities” on the recommendation of his lawyer and welcomed “an in-depth investigation”.
It remains unclear whether any of Black’s allegations against Ganieva constitute criminal conduct and there is no indication that the allegations were brought or are being considered.
Ganieva did not immediately respond to Black’s extortion claims. Ganieva said that in 2015, she signed a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA, meant to keep her peace “under duress”, but did not detail the conditions or whether she received a monetary benefit.
“Although I am a private person, given the recent media coverage, I think I have an obligation to make a statement about the CEO and President of Apollo Global Management, Leon Black,” began the first of his tweets on March 17. “I have been sexually harassed and abused for years.
“It started in 2008, when I met with him to discuss work,” Ganieva continued. “Although he understood my career aspirations, he could not understand me when I refused his sexual advances. I was assaulted, manipulated, threatened and coerced. ”
Ganieva refused to provide a copy of the NDA. A second source claiming knowledge of the issue agreed that an NDA had been signed, but refused to elaborate.
NDAs have become a hotbed in the #MeToo movement, with commentators claiming that they have become a tool to protect strong men from allegations of abuse.
“I’m breaking my silence now, because I don’t want this type of predatory behavior to continue to happen to other women,” Ganieva said in her third and final tweet, which was still posted on Twitter on Thursday.
In an exclusive interview with The Post earlier this week, before Black’s extortion allegations, Ganieva claimed that Black’s abuse “was for a long time and was tragic.”
Ganieva, who emigrated to the United States from Russia, said she met Black at a 2008 party in Manhattan when she was 25 years old. He has been trying for some time to help her get a job, she said, but said she wants favors instead.
Ganieva declined to comment more specifically on her allegations, saying she still does not feel comfortable sharing further details about her allegations.
Among the executives who learned of the tweets, sources said, was Jay Clayton, the former head of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, who was elected Apollo’s chief independent director in a January review aimed at improving Apollo’s corporate governance.
Clayton did not return a comment request. An Apollo spokeswoman declined to comment and said Black was no longer with the company.
Black’s sudden departure from Apollo has been widely reported.
In January, an investigation into Apollo by law firm Dechert found that he paid Epstein $ 158 million in tax advice and real estate planning services between 2013 and 2017. Following the investigation, Black said of his involvement in Epstein that he was only guilty of poor judgment in his dealings with Epstein and that he had done nothing wrong.
“[There was no] evidence that I was involved in Mr. Epstein’s misconduct or that I was involved in any wrongdoing, “he said in a letter to Apollo investors.
Four days later, on March 26, Black said he would not run for re-election as president of the Museum of Modern Art when his term ends on June 30.