The new owner of the Carolina Panthers said a culture change is coming to the organization, following years of sexual harassment by the team’s former owner.
David Tepper gave his first press conference as owner of the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday. He said the football side of the organization is in “pretty good shape” and he’s not looking to make many changes.
But Tepper is planning to change a front office atmosphere that prevented employees from talking openly about harassment.
“I can’t emphasize enough the openness I plan to have. Openness and team,” Tepper said.
Tepper said he'll accept nothing less than an "open and safe" work environment in Carolina.
Tepper is taking ownership from Jerry Richardson, who sold the team amidst a National Football League investigation into sexual harassment claims.
An NFL report recently confirmed those claims and said Richardson used nondisclosure agreements to silence harassment victims. Tepper said that won’t happen under his leadership.
“There’s not going to be nondislosure agreements no matter what in this new place. That was then, this is now,” Tepper said.
Despite the change in ownership, a 13-foot high statue of Richardson will remain outside Bank of America stadium in Charlotte.
Tepper said he’s "contractually obligated" to keep it there.