The president of the Academy of Motion Pictures, the organisation that hands out the Oscars, is reportedly being investigated for sexual misconduct.

John Bailey, 75, is facing three separate sexual harassment claims, US media outlets reported last night.

The veteran US movie director and cinematographer was elected to the four-year term as president of the Academy in August and has overseen the backlash against sexual misconduct in Hollywood following the Harvey Weinstein scandal.

The Academy received three claims of sexual harassment against Bailey on Wednesday and began an investigation, according to US celebrity news sites Variety and The Hollywood Reporter.

The allegations have come just two weeks after the annual Oscars ceremony.

Since the appointment of Bailey, whose film credits include Groundhog Day, the academy has voted to expel Weinstein while the cinematographer has helped to establish its first code of conduct for its 8,000 members.

Weinstein has been accused of sexual assault by a number of high profile actresses in Hollywood - among them Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Beckinsale and Lupita Nyong'o - but has denied all accusations of non-consensual behaviour.

In February, Bailey told the annual luncheon for Oscar nominees that the 90-year-old organisation was reinventing itself with programs committed to inclusion and diversity "in today's era of a greater awareness and responsibility in balancing gender, race, ethnicity and religion.".