[throwaway6497]

The title is click-baity. He took leave of absence from the current company Essential because reports of an in-appropriate relationship at Google surfaced publicly?

Leaders and board at Essential seem to be aware of his relationship at Google prior to the press reports. So, it is not clear why is this suddenly a big deal and requires leave of absence. Are they embarrassed that they got publicly caught and doing this for optics? What are they embarrassed about?

[bitL]

This could entirely be a CYA strategy of the board as the phone seems to be a flop and somebody has to be made accountable for that - here Andy might be a welcome scapegoat and distraction for not very smart investors.