Star chef Redzepi steps away from Noma, acknowledging past harm to staff
COPENHAGEN, March 12 (Reuters) - Danish chef Rene Redzepi, whose Michelin-starred Noma restaurant made him a culinary celebrity, is stepping away from daily operations at the Copenhagen foodie favourite, it said on Thursday, after he acknowledged past mistreatment of staff.
The New York Times reported on March 7 that dozens of former employees said Redzepi inflicted physical and psychological harm, detailing incidents that occurred between 2009 and 2017.
Similar stories have circulated online for years.
In a social media post on Thursday, Redzepi said that by stepping back he was taking responsibility for his "past leadership".
"After more than two decades of building and leading this restaurant, I've decided to step away and allow our extraordinary leaders to now guide the restaurant into its next chapter," he said.
Noma confirmed in a statement that Redzepi would "step away from daily operations, effective immediately".
Following the New York Times article, Redzepi had earlier acknowledged the impact his past actions had on staff.
"Although I don't recognize all details in these stories, I can see enough of my past behavior reflected in them to understand that my actions were harmful to people who worked with me," he said.
It was unclear whether Redzepi's decision would affect his co-ownership of Noma, and the restaurant did not offer further clarification.
REDZEPI TO STAFF: YOU ARE 'RUNNING THE SHOW NOW'
Spurred by Redzepi's avant-garde approach to Nordic cuisine, Noma has repeatedly topped rankings of the world's best restaurants and was awarded three prestigious Michelin stars, with pop-up appearances selling out from Tokyo to Los Angeles.
Redzepi co-founded Noma in 2003 when he was in his mid-20s. Now 48, he said in Thursday's post that he had worked to be a better leader and that Noma had "taken big steps" to transform its culture.
"I recognize these changes do not repair the past," he wrote on Thursday, adding he had also resigned from the board of an educational non-profit organisation he formed in 2011.
In its statement, the restaurant said it implemented changes in recent years including a fully paid internship program, improved hours and expanded benefits.
"You'll see me around. But not in the way you've seen me around for the past 23 years," he said in a speech to staff posted on Noma's Instagram account. "You guys are running the show now."
