Scott Maclachlan, the music executive who discovered Lorde when she was 13, has been sacked by Warner Music Group after he admitted to years of 'harmful behaviour'.
A Stuff #MeTooNZ investigation exposed Maclachan's history of misconduct, including a sexual harassment complaint in 2018 which saw him demoted and banned from Warner Music's Australian offices.
Maclachlan told Stuff he "accepted the harmful impact of his past behaviour" which included making "stupid, insensitive and ignorant comments" to female colleagues and staff, including asking them if they wanted sexual contact with him and making remarks about their bodies.
"There’s not a day goes by that I don’t regret the harm I have caused people around me and most importantly the pain and embarrassment I have caused my wife and children," Maclachlan told Stuff.
"I have to live with that guilt, knowing that people I worked with have also endured pain and stress because of my actions."
Warner confirmed Maclachlan had been let go in a statement to Stuff, insisting the company was committed to "providing a safe, professional environment for all our team".
"Our Code of Conduct is very clear regarding harassment of any kind. All allegations are treated seriously and action is taken if any employee’s behaviour has breached that code," a spokesperson said.
Lorde and Machlaclan parted ways in 2015 and was named Senior Vice President of A&R at Warner Music in May 2018. According to Stuff, he was demoted just five months later.
Amy Goldsmith, a former employee of Maclachlan's, revealed she was sexually harassed and emotionally manipulated by her boss when she worked for his company Saiko Management.
"He would insinuate he wanted more [than their professional relationship] he would comment on my body, he would ask whether I wanted to kiss him. Most of the time I just told him to shut up," Goldsmith told Stuff.
Maclachlan admitted Goldsmith's claims were true, adding that he "wholly regretted" his actions. He also revealed he was now undertaking intensive psychotherapy and treatment for alcoholism.
