The rush for the exit door came after the Guardian newspaper reported that a second woman had made a rape allegation - against two male CBI co-workers.

Here are some of the companies and organisations which have so far announced plans to leave or suspend their membership.

Asda

"We are aware that further allegations have been made against the CBI and have decided to pause our engagement with them while these are investigated."

Association of British Insurers

"It has become untenable to retain our membership in light of further serious allegations and we have informed the CBI of our decision to leave with immediate effect."

AstraZeneca

"Following these grave allegations, we have decided to pause our engagements with the CBI while these are investigated."

Aviva

"In light of the very serious allegations made, and the CBI's handling of the process and response, we believe the CBI is no longer able to fulfil its core function - to be a representative voice of business in the UK. We have therefore regrettably terminated our membership with immediate effect."

BMW Group

"The BMW Group is concerned by the allegations relating to the CBI. The group has therefore decided to terminate its membership with immediate effect."

British Beer & Pub Association

"Following further discussions with our board this afternoon we have taken the decision to terminate our membership with the CBI with immediate effect."

BP

The energy company is pausing its membership.

BT Group

"In light of the appalling allegations made, BT Group has decided to suspend its membership of the CBI with immediate effect."

Energy UK

"Energy UK has decided to terminate its membership with the CBI with immediate effect in light of the very serious allegations that have been reported. We know that these allegations will also be shocking and upsetting for the staff at the CBI that we work with. We will review the situation following the completion of the CBI's investigations and the actions it takes as a result."

EY

"EY has terminated its membership of the CBI and all associated activities with immediate effect."

ITV

"ITV will pause engagement with the CBI with immediate effect and will not renew our contract with them."

JLL

"We are terminating our membership of the CBI with immediate effect and have made them aware. In light of the distressing allegations, which continue to point to a culture that isn't aligned to our values, our relationship with the CBI has become untenable."

John Lewis Partnership

"Due to the further very serious and ongoing allegations made relating to the CBI, we have decided to end our membership with immediate effect."

Kingfisher

"Given the very serious and ongoing further allegations, we have taken the decision to end our CBI membership today."

Lloyds Bank

The banking group will be pausing its membership.

Marks & Spencer

"We have paused our membership of the CBI while these allegations are investigated."

Mastercard

"We have resigned our membership of the CBI. The allegations are extremely troubling and need to be addressed with immediacy by the proper authorities."

National Grid

"In light of today's serious further allegations, we have informed the CBI that we are ending our membership with immediate effect."

NatWest

"Following careful consideration, and having previously paused all activity, NatWest Group has today withdrawn its membership of the CBI with immediate effect. British business needs a strong representative voice. Given the extremely serious allegations made against the CBI, we no longer have confidence that it can fulfil this role at the present time."

People's Partnership

"Following the very serious allegations made, we have made the decision that we can no longer remain members of the CBI."

Phoenix

"Further to the allegations reported this morning, we have taken the decision to resign our membership of the CBI with immediate effect," a spokesperson said.

PwC

"We see value in an organisation that represents UK business, and the issues that matter most to business as a whole. That organisation needs to be a trusted voice, and have the membership necessary to be representative. With multiple horrific allegations hanging over its head, the CBI is currently unable to do its job. We have suspended all activity with the CBI."

Rolls-Royce

"In light of the recent allegations, which are deeply concerning, we are suspending all interaction with the CBI with immediate effect. We will await the completion of its ongoing investigations before making a final decision on our membership."

Sainsbury's

A spokesperson for Sainsbury's confirmed that the business had paused its membership.

Schroders

"At this time we do not feel the CBI is the right organisation to represent our views so we have decided to exit."

ScottishPower

"We are deeply concerned about these extremely serious allegations and are pausing our membership with the CBI with immediate effect."

Shell

The energy giant has paused its membership.

Tesco

"We are deeply concerned by these very serious allegations and we have paused our membership of the CBI with immediate effect."

Unilever

"Due to the very serious and ongoing allegations, we can confirm that we have suspended our membership of the CBI."

Virgin Media O2

"While we respect the ongoing investigations taking place, these disturbing allegations and the way the situation has been handled is not representative of business in Britain. We have therefore informed the CBI that we are ending our membership."

Zurich UK

"We are deeply concerned about the allegations made about the CBI and have decided to terminate our membership with immediate effect."