For Immediate Release: November 26 2014

MFaT CEO To Announce Resignation

NZ's leading Political publication Trans Tasman can reveal Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade chief executive John Allen will announce his resignation on Monday. Allen, who was controversially recruited to head up the Ministry in 2009 after a stellar career as CEO at NZ Post, embarked on reforms within the Ministry which stirred up the antagonism of long serving diplomats.

Allen took the job with the mission of “developing a strong vision and direction for the Ministry that is designed to underpin NZ’s security and economic prosperity.” Earlier this year his term as CEO was extended until June next year.

Trans-Tasman's Editors say Allen is leaving MFaT for a top post in the private sector.

Earlier Allen was a former partner of Rudd Watts and Stone, specialising in commercial and public policy issues, and has also been a visiting lecturer of Law at Victoria University of Wellington. He is an Advisor to the Boards of NZ Trade and Enterprise, Education NZ and the Asia NZ Foundation.

At one point in his term at MFaT Allen came under fire from Labour’s then foreign affairs spokesman Phil Goff, who attacked a big pay rise for Allen as “ a blatant double standard at a time when many diplomats are losing their jobs.” Figures on state sector chief executives’ pay show Allen’s salary at MFaT last year was the highest among chief executives, with a rise of $40,000 taking his package to between $620,000 and $629,999.

© Scoop Media