Renewal SA chief executive John Hanlon steps away from role
A SENIOR public servant in charge of hundreds of millions of dollars in developments, and a fellow top executive in the same department, have mysteriously gone on indefinite leave.
A SENIOR public servant in charge of hundreds of millions of dollars in developments, and a fellow top executive in the same department, have mysteriously gone on indefinite leave.
The Advertiser can reveal Renewal SA chief executive John Hanlon, appointed to the position by the former Labor State Government, has suddenly stepped away from the agency.
Former deputy premier and planning minister John Rau appointed Mr Hanlon to the role in July 2014. Mr Hanlon was previously the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure deputy chief executive.
Mr Rau at the time said Mr Hanlon was “widely known and respected in the industry” and had a “wealth of experience in the public service”.
Mr Hanlon has not responded to a request for comment this afternoon.
Transport, Infrastructure and Local Government Minister Stephan Knoll in a statement confirmed “Renewal SA’s CEO and one other Renewal SA executive are currently on leave”.
He said Renewal SA’s general manager corporate services Damian De Luca had been appointed as acting chief executive “so that there is no disruption to Renewal SA’s continued operations and its focus on delivering its important strategic projects”.
The department itself declined to offer any further clarification.
Renewal SA oversees the management of Government land and building projects including the old Royal Adelaide Hospital site redevelopment, Riverbank and Festival Plaza.
It also has a central role in residential developments at Bowden and Port Adelaide, as well as managing rollout of a hi-tech business hub on the old Mitsubishi site at Tonsley Park.
Mr Hanlon replaced former thinker in residence Fred Hansen, who was sacked in 2014.
Mr Hanlon had been active as chief executive as recently as last week.