Who is Alexander Nix, why has Cambridge Analytica’s CEO been suspended and when was he secretly filmed?
An undercover investigation by Channel 4 recorded the data firm’s chief executive Alexander Nix suggesting controversial ways he could help a potential client. But his company denied engaging in ‘entrapment, bribes or so-called 'honeytraps’ in the course of its work.
ALEXANDER Nix is at the heart of allegations that the firm he works for used the personal data of 50 million Facebook members to influence the US presidential election in 2016.
Here is all you need to know about the man at the heart of a growing controversy.
Who is Cambridge Analytica's Alexander Nix?
Alexander Nix is an ex-Etonian who is the boss of Cambridge Analytica.
The 42-year-old runs a company that has come under intense scrutiny for allegedly mining Facebook data against Facebook’s terms.
After learning of the claims, the Information Commissioner, Elizabeth Denham, sought a warrant to access Cambridge Analytica's servers amid a probe into its involvement in worldwide elections.
She is looking for evidence as part of her investigation at the company's use of data analytics for political purposes.
Why has Cambridge Analytica's CEO been suspended?
Nix was suspended "with immediate effect" from Cambridge Analytica on March 21 2018.
His suspension came moments before Channel 4 News was due to air a second report about Cambridge Analytica's inner workings.
The company said a full investigation is pending.
Cambridge Analytica said in a statement: "In view of the board, Mr Nix's recent comments secretly recorded by Channel 4 News do not represent the values or operations of the firm."
In the secret broadcasts, aired on Channel 4, Mr Nix said he met Donald Trump "many times".
When was Alexander Nix secretly filmed?
Alexander Nix was secretly filmed at London hotels over four months, from November 2017 to January 2018 by an undercover reporter for Channel 4 News.
The reporter posed as a fixer for a wealthy client hoping to get candidates elected in Sri Lanka.
In undercover Channel Four sting footage broadcast on Tuesday March 20, Alexander Nix can be seen saying the company has secretly taped agents offering corrupt campaign financing deals to politicians and has sent "girls around to the candidate's house" to create damaging videos.
Mr Nix also spoke of sending "very beautiful" Ukrainian girls to a candidate's house, adding: "It sounds a dreadful thing to say but these are things that don't necessarily need to be true as long as they're believed."
He had been speaking to a reporter posing as a potential client from Sri Lanka.
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What has Alexander Nix said about the sting?
Mr Nix told BBC's Newsnight the Channel 4 sting was "intended to embarrass us".
He said: "We see this as a co-ordinated attack by the media that's been going on for very, very many months in order to damage the company that had some involvement with the election of Donald Trump."
Mr Nix said he had a "huge amount of regrets about the fact that we, maybe, undertook this meeting and spoke with a certain amount of hyperbole about some of the things that we do".
He added: "I have some regrets about the way that I have represented what the company does. I certainly feel that the air of mystery and negativity that surrounds the work of Cambridge is misfounded and, as the CEO, I take responsibility for that."
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