NEW YORK (CNN/Money) -
Suzy Wetlaufer, former editor of Harvard Business Review who had to give up that position after becoming romantically involved with retired General Electric Co. CEO Jack Welch, Wednesday left the prestigious and influential publication altogether.
Harvard Business School Publishing and Wetlaufer issued statements that she is leaving her editor-at-large position, effective immediately. She was given that post after her relationship with Welch caused the publication to pull an interview she conducted with him and sparked a staff revolt.
"Unfortunately, what has become clear is that Harvard Business Review will never again be a place where I will be able to work to my full potential," said her letter of resignation. "I regret that, under the circumstances, this decision to resign is the best one I can make for myself, the organization, and the talented associates and friends I leave behind."
Some of those associates had been calling for her departure from the publication since early this year. After she interviewed Welch last year following his retirement, the two became romantically involved, Wetlaufer's spokesman Karen Schwartzman confirmed Wednesday.
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Wetlaufer asked in December that her interview with Welch be pulled, citing the appearance of a conflict of interest, and it was reassigned to other staff members and appeared in the February issue. But the controversy prompted other staffers to sign a letter asking for her removal, citing a loss of confidence by the staff.
"When I wrote to my colleagues back in January, I acknowledged and expressed regret that the actions I took to address the conflict that arose were not sufficient to maintain the trust of many of my colleagues," she said.
Wetlaufer gave up her editor position in March and become editor-at-large. Welch's wife Jane Beasley Welch filed for divorce in March shortly after the Welch-Wetlaufer dispute became public.
"We wish Suzy well in her future endeavors," said a statement from Walter Kiechel III, editorial director of HBSP.
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