Another CPA director resigns, as crisis intensifies

Another board member has made a sudden exit, as CPA Australia’s crisis intensifies.

Alex Malley at the Certified Practicing Accountants Australia headquarters in Sydney.

CPA Australia director David Spong has become the fourth member of the embattled accounting body’s board to resign in the past fortnight, as a crisis over the reign of chief executive Alex Malley continues to roil the organisation.

In a statement posted to the CPA Australia website, new president Jim Dickson said an emergency board meeting will be held tomorrow to discuss “a systematic campaign of undermining” mounted by a media organisation he did not name.

The wave of resignations has slashed the size of the board from 12 to eight.

Mr Dickson became president and chairman after Tyrone Carlin, widely regarded as a Malley ally, resigned suddenly on May 30, effective immediately.

Last Wednesday Liberal Party president Richard Alston and lawyer Kerry Ryan also tendered their immediate resignations from the board.

Mr Spong resigned on Friday — also apparently effective immediately — but his departure was announced by Mr Dickson only today.

“We are aware that a media outlet is repeatedly contacting some directors and their employers, and applying significant pressure on them to step away from their roles,” Mr Dickson said.

“This has been a systematic campaign of undermining, which any director with an employer, in any organisation, could fall victim to.

“The toll it is taking on individuals and our organisation is unacceptable. The board will meet on Tuesday with respect to these matters.”

He said that in the meantime the board was focused on recruiting new directors through its existing process — a move unlikely to pacify rebel members calling for wholesale renewal.