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Otago Museum finance and commercial director Chris Farry has resigned, as the fallout continues over management restructuring at the museum.
Mr Farry (49), a Gore-born BCom accounting graduate of the University of Otago, has worked at the museum for more than 10 years.
He confirmed yesterday he would be leaving in mid-September. Museum director Dr Ian Griffin announced late last week that the position of Clare Wilson, the museum collections, research and experience director, had been disestablished. No other jobs were lost in the restructuring.
Apart from Dr Griffin, when Mr Farry leaves, only two members of its senior management group will remain, visitor interaction and programmes director Helen Horner and assets and technology manager Joel Oldridge.
Mr Farry said Ms Wilson's departure had been an ''enormous loss'' and posed some ''risk'' to the museum, given the many important roles she had played, including as a key fundraiser. He had felt ''massive disappointment'' she was not being retained, and had also experienced a big loss of energy for his job.
As part of the restructuring feedback process, he had made an internal submission in favour of retaining her skills.
He had handed in his resignation late last week.
Asked if he was resigning in protest, Mr Farry said he was ''an adult'' and was not stepping down in protest, but the restructuring and an apparent change in direction at the museum were among factors contributing to his move.
He believed he had done a good job but could no longer ''give the museum 120%''.
''The museum deserves better than that.''
One factor in his decision was what he believed was a change in direction by the museum towards a somewhat more research-linked academic approach, rather than using the museum collections as a key tool for involving the community.
Dr Griffin said it was ''sad'' Mr Farry was leaving. He understood Mr Farry had another job to go to.