Efuse chief strategy officer resigns over past sexual harassment case
Marie Dealessandri
Features Editor
Tuesday 3rd May 2022
Efuse's chief strategy officer Patrick Klein has resigned.
The announcement was made on the social platform's Twitter page last week, and follows a sexual harassment case against Klein that dates back from 2019.
Klein formerly was Ohio State University women's basketball associate head coach, with an investigation concluded in December 2020 finding him guilty of violating the university's sexual harassment policy "through text messages and social media interactions with at least 13 student-athletes," the Buckeye Sports Bulletin reported at the time.
The publication added that Klein's behaviour "consisted of a pervasive pattern of conduct that was reasonably perceived to be sexual in nature and that it interfered with the athletic experience of those student-athletes," based on documents from the investigation it had access to.
Klein, who initially resigned from OSU in August 2019, was hired by Efuse in October -- just two months later. The sexual harassment and NCAA violations case recently resurfaced, with the Esports Observer talking to Efuse on April 14.
In a statement at the time, the company said it has a "zero tolerance for harassment of any kind" and that it was aware of Klein's resignation from his previous role and why it happened.
"Patrick was honest and forthright about his prior resignation; he took responsibility; and he accepted accountability for what happened," the statement read.
"Patrick, like all other team members, went through a rigorous interview process, which included a background check and reference checks. We spoke with many individuals at Ohio State and outside the University regarding his resignation. We are confident in the steps and decisions
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