After a tumultuous six months at the head of the industry’s peak association Jason Allen is suddenly on his way out, resigning to support his wife in a UK career move.
Allen’s last day will be April 1, with former CEO Bill Healey, currently working on special projects, set to leave the following month. The PIAA is already seeking Allen’s successor.
Allen took up his role as PIAA CEO in June last year to spearhead a three-year business transformation across all areas of the organisation – the membership offering, the services offering and measurement and reporting to simplify and consolidate operations, in order to be better partners for members and industry stakeholders.
The PIAA described Allen’s tenure as ‘vibrant’, however with significant numbers of senior staff departuring, resignations, public arguments with members, and the sale of the national HQ it may not have been in the way intended.
There has been an exodus of senior staff since Allen’s arrival. Peter Mansfield, general manager South Australia, and Paul Nieuwhof, general manager Western Australia both left, as did Jenny Berry, membership services for Victoria & Tasmania who went in September. Long term PIAA communications director Joe Kowaleski was dismissed in October, and the association’s finance controller quit in November.
In December the association’s only female board member, and its former president, Susan Heaney resigned her role suddenly – leaving the PIAA board as male only.
The PIAA national offices in Auburn were sold off, with the PIAA making a $1m profit on the building they bought 12 years ago, selling it for $3.45m. They are now paying for an office suite that was marketed at $226,000 a year rent in Chatswood.
Allen also got into a major and public stoush with long term member James Cryer over several important heritage items during the move from Auburn to Chatswood.
Taking the leadership of the PIAA a repesentative of an industry in major flux was never going to be an easy ask, as the board pushed through with a new structure and a more sales focused orientation. In recent months membership hs increased.
David Leach, the PIAA incumbent president says, “Jason has fervently pursued his vision for the realignment of PIAA, bringing a fresh approach to the way we develop our people to grow, lead and succeed within an innovative, values-focused work environment.
“On behalf of the PIAA Board, staff and members I sincerely wish Jason and his wife all the best for their future and thank him for his significant contribution to PIAA. Since his appointment, we have appointed a new leadership structure bringing together people with the right qualities and commercial experience to allow the Association to reach its full potential. We are at the very beginning of our journey and look forward to this New Year with further improvements, expanding our service offering.”
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