Disgraced ... Mark McInnes. Source: The Australian
DISGRACED ex-David Jones chief Mark McInnes has vowed to defend new claims he mistreated a woman during the 2004 Spring Racing Carnival.
The retail boss, who resigned last week after a complaint of sexual harassment by a female staffer, has engaged lawyers to challenge the fresh allegations.
The woman, not named in the published story, said she was the partner of an invited guest when Mr McInnes allegedly "acted inappropriately".
Her email to the department store, received at noon, claimed she reported the incident to a DJs employee, John Warn, who has subsequently denied knowledge or record of the conversation six years ago.
A DJs spokeswoman told The Daily Telegraph that, while the department store was "extremely concerned about these allegations and treats them very seriously", the retailer did not hold any functions or events during the spring racing carnival in 2004.
It is understood David Jones did not sign its sponsorship deal with the Australian Jockey Club and Royal Randwick until 2006, which included hosting a corporate marquee during the autumn racing season.
"I categorically deny a new allegation about an event that has been alleged to have occurred at the David Jones marquee at the Royal Randwick races in 2004, six years ago," Mr McInnes said.
"It is simply not true and I have appointed Johnson Winter and Slattery to defend me in any court that such a matter could or would be tested."
Mr McInnes also denied he had flown out of Australia first class and has "not gone to the French Riviera and have no plans to attend a wedding in Portofino. These myths join the various others."
Kristy Fraser-Kirk, the publicist whose allegations prompted Mr McInnes to step down last week from his $4 million a year post, is yet to specify the nature of her complaint against him.
Meanwhile, retail academic Mark Ritson claimed DJ's rival Myer would be "over the moon" about the scandal and his departure would damage the store's brand value.
David Jones shares closed 2c down yesterday, to $4.47.
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