London Zoo Director Resigns Following workplace Behavior Investigation
The director of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), David Gould, has resigned from his position, which oversees both London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, following an investigation into claims of “unacceptable workplace behaviour.” The resignation was announced in a letter to staff on February 29, 2024.
According to the letter, the ZSL board accepted Gould’s resignation. The executive director of ZSL has stepped in as interim chief executive, with a stated focus on “leading an organisation with honesty, integrity and accountability at its heart,” as reported by Smith.
ZSL confirmed the investigation to staff, stating it was “not related to ZSL’s financial operations” and was “addressed promptly and appropriately.” A spokesperson emphasized, “There are no wider implications for our staff or operations.We are not sharing any further details on an internal matter.” The spokesperson further affirmed ZSL’s commitment to “maintaining a culture that lives up to our values and ensuring the organisation continues to be a supportive and respectful place to work.”
Gould, 54, joined ZSL in September 2022. Prior to this, he held a distinguished career in public service, including eight years in the Foreign Office, serving as a speechwriter for Labour Foreign Secretary Robin Cook. He later served as private secretary for foreign affairs at Downing Street in 2007, during the final period of Tony Blair’s premiership. He held postings in Islamabad, Tehran, and Washington DC, and served as the British ambassador to Israel for five years.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Gould was the first chief executive of NHSX, the health service’s digital innovations wing, appointed by then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock. He previously knew former Chancellor George Osborne through their shared membership in a chess club at St Paul’s school and spoke at Osborne’s wedding in 2023.
The resignation occurs during a financially challenging period for ZSL. The organization launched a voluntary redundancy scheme in October 2023, aiming to reduce costs by £2m a year, due to cuts in aid funding from both the Trump administration and the UK government. Gould stated at the time he was “doing everything possible” to avoid compulsory redundancies.
In a 2023 interview with the Daily Telegraph, Gould described his work-life balance, commuting to London during the week from his home in Somerset where he lives with his wife, celia, a photographer and textile designer, and their two daughters. Reflecting on his time in government during the pandemic, he noted the increased scrutiny faced by public figures, stating, “The respect has gone down. The suspicion and the scrutiny has [increased].” He added, “you have to be a pretty strong character to survive the presumption of ill intent and constant searching for evidence of wrongdoing.” He also stated at the time, “I don’t want to say for ever, but I can’t see anything I’d rather be doing” regarding his role at ZSL.
