On Monday evening, Stuff put questions to EY about Fonterra’s request for any contractors subject to past or present misconduct investigations to be removed from projects. On Tuesday morning, EY advised staff of its new internal review.

In a statement, EY managing partner Simon O’Connor confirmed the review and said EY’s partners and clients were also advised of it on Tuesday.

“EY is supporting Fonterra in relation to its investigation,” he said.

“[EY’s] independent review of historical complaints related to behavioural misconduct will help us to build confidence in our complaints process, to help all our people feel safe at work.

“We continue to encourage anyone at EY, including alumni, to come forward if they have experienced behaviour that does not align with our code or EY values, regardless of whether this is recent or historical.”

The engagement of the external advisor follows an earlier review, previously described by O’Connor as “the most comprehensive review of workplace culture ever undertaken in the New Zealand professional services industry”.

That review, released in July 2023, was undertaken shortly after the sudden death of a staff member at the company’s Sydney office. It showed almost one in five women aged between 18 and 35 had reported at least one instance of sexual harassment in the past five years.

In response to the latest review, a former staff member told Stuff, “You’d hope that as part of the review they find out who in the current partner group knew of Braden [Dickson]’s behaviour back at the time that it occurred and who stood by, despite this knowledge, as he was then promoted to chair, the lead partner of their largest client, and built and maintained their troubling culture over the years.”

Fonterra has launched an internal investigation after complaints were raised that some EY staff who had been the subject of misconduct investigations had been present on Fonterra premises
RICKY WILSON / STUFF

Another source told Stuff Fonterra’s internal investigation should prompt other major organisations who were significant clients of EY to review their own processes, to ensure the EY staff who consult to them are safe.

“What due diligence have these clients undertaken to ensure that they buy services from an organisation that lives up to their values?”

A former EY complainant said while she was sceptical of the motives for the review, “best of luck to them. I really hope they move the dial”.