The head of London Zoo has resigned during a reported investigation into his “unacceptable workplace behaviour”.
Matthew Gould, who previously worked in Downing Street and was British ambassador to Israel, stepped down as chief executive of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) last week.
Gould, 54, who has updated his LinkedIn profile to say “plotting my next move”, had held the post at the world’s oldest scientific zoo since September 2022.
Jim Smith, ZSL’s chair of trustees, wrote in a letter to staff that an “investigation into claims of unacceptable workplace behaviour found that Matthew Gould’s conduct fell below the standard we expect. He resigned before this investigation had concluded.
“We are committed to living up to our values at every level of the organisation and ensuring a safe, respectful and inclusive workplace for everyone.”
Smith said the executive director of ZSL, which also runs Whipsnade Zoo in Bedfordshire, had stepped in as interim chief executive and was “focused on leading an organisation with honesty, integrity and accountability at its heart”.
ZSL said: “This investigation was not related to ZSL’s financial operations. This matter was addressed promptly and appropriately, and there are no wider implications for our staff or operations. We are not sharing any further details on an internal matter.
“ZSL’s work continues unchanged and we are committed to maintaining a culture that lives up to our values and ensuring the organisation continues to be a supportive and respectful place to work.”
Michael Horton, an Israeli artist, and Gould, as British ambassador to Israel, display the traditional Jewish marriage scroll that was presented to Prince William and Kate Middleton for their wedding in 2011
JACK GUEZ/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Following his career as a diplomat, Gould worked in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. In 2019 he became the first chief executive of NHSX, a unit set up to drive the digital transformation of NHS health and social care.
Gould has been a close friend of George Osborne, the former Conservative chancellor, since they were members of the chess club at St Paul’s, the public school in west London. He spoke at Osborne’s wedding to Thea Rogers in 2023.
Gould wrote in a piece for the Times, shortly after taking up his role at ZSL, that he had been in charge of cybersecurity strategy and digital policy in Whitehall, and spent years with the NHS leading its digital transformation. He built the NHS Covid pass.
He said of his ZSL post: “It is a job I have coveted for decades. When a friend and fellow ambassador was appointed to the role a few years ago, any joy I felt for him was obliterated by a sharp jealousy that he had got my job.”
Gould has been approached for comment.