A former premier quit her role on the board of directors of a technology firm at the centre of a sexual harassment and assault allegation about five months ago, it was revealed today.

Dame Jennifer Smith said she resigned from the post with Afiniti in June for personal reasons.

She said: “I, Dame Jennifer Smith, am no longer a board member or associated with the Afiniti board of directors.”

Dame Jennifer added her resignation last June was because of “unrelated personal matters”.

She was speaking after Bermuda-based Afiniti was rocked this week by allegations made against Zia Chishti, its founder and chief executive officer.

Tatiana Spottiswoode made the allegations in testimony before a House of Representatives judiciary committee earlier this week.

She accused Chishti, 50, of beating her after he allegedly pressured her into having sex with him on a work trip to Brazil in 2017.

A spokesman for Afiniti denied the allegations and said that Mr Chishti “disputes all accusations against him”.

Dame Jennifer’s appointment on the board was announced in July last year.

The former Progressive Labour Party premier said then that she looked forward to “continuing to further increase” her involvement in the technology sector and “contributing my areas of expertise to the fourth industrial revolution”.

Afiniti did not respond to a request for comment.

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