ViacomCBS said Thursday it investigated and subsequently cleared chief executive Bob Bakish following an allegation of sexual misconduct.

The US media-entertainment giant offered no details but confirmed a report that its board had conducted an independent review of the matter and ultimately took no action.

"The board takes any allegation of this type seriously," a company spokesperson said.

ViacomCBS chief executive Bob Bakish is seen at a 2017 business conference in Sun Valley, Idaho
ViacomCBS chief executive Bob Bakish is seen at a 2017 business conference in Sun Valley, Idaho GETTY IMAGES / Drew Angerer

"An independent review of the alleged incident has concluded, and the investigation did not support the allegation."

The claim centered on alleged improper touching of another employee at a 2016 holiday party when Bakish was acting CEO at Viacom, according to a report by the news site The Information.

Bakish became CEO at Viacom a year later and then became head of the group after its merger in 2019 with CBS, whose CEO Les Moonves was ousted amid sexual misconduct allegations.

Viacom