After a bruising six months as CEO of the peak industry association Printing Industries Jason Allen has resigned. He will leave on April 1, to support his wife in a UK based role. Allen was brought in to succeed Bill Healey, who has been working on special projects since last July and will himself depart in May. Allen was appointed with the aim of increasing membership and member services. However his tenure at the top proved to be a difficult period for the association, with multiple staff departures, state offices closing, arguments over heritage items, and conflicts at the top. Some change was to be expected with a new CEO of an association representing members from an industry in flux, but the past six months have not been overly happy ones for the PIAA or many of its members. On the up side membership of the association has increased, and the recent successful Future Print Transformation programme has continued to deliver business benefits to members. In December long serving board member and former president Susan Heaney resigned her role suddenly, leaving the PIAA board as male only. Staff turnover has been high, with few senior people left from the pre-Allen era. Long term PIAA communications director Joe Kowaleski was shown the door in October, and the association’s finance controller quit in November, as did Peter Mansfield, general manager South Australia. Paul Nieuwhof, general manager Western Australia, also left in October, preceded by Jenny Berry, membership services for Victoria & Tasmania who went in September.
PIAA CEO Jason Allen will resign April 1
The PIAA national offices in Auburn were sold off, the PIAA made a $1m profit on the building they bought 12 years ago, selling for $3.45m in November, but are now paying for an office suite in Chatswood that was marketed at $226,000 a year rent. Allen also got into a major and public stoush with long term member James Cryer over several heritage items during the move from Auburn to Chatswood. Describing Allen’s time as ‘vibrant’ the PIAA says he was 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. 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.” The PIAA has already begun its search for its new CEO.
Comment below to have your say on this story.
If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at editorial@sprinter.com.au.
Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter