The new owner of the Carolina Panthers said a culture change is coming to the organization, following years of sexual harassment by the team鈥檚 former owner.
David Tepper gave his first press conference as owner of the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday. He said the football side of the organization is in 鈥減retty good shape鈥� and he鈥檚 not looking to make many changes.
But Tepper is planning to change a front office atmosphere that prevented employees from talking openly about harassment.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 emphasize enough the openness I plan to have. Openness and team,鈥� Tepper said.
Tepper said he'll accept nothing less than an "open and safe" work environment in Carolina.
Tepper is taking ownership from Jerry Richardson, who sold the team amidst a National Football League investigation into sexual harassment claims.
An NFL report recently confirmed those claims and said Richardson to silence harassment victims. Tepper said that won鈥檛 happen under his leadership.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not going to be nondislosure agreements no matter what in this new place. That was then, this is now,鈥� Tepper said.
Despite the change in ownership, a 13-foot high statue of Richardson will remain outside Bank of America stadium in Charlotte.
Tepper said he鈥檚 "contractually obligated" to keep it there.
