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John Allen (diplomat)

John Allen is a New Zealand public servant. From 2009 to 2014 he served as chief executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. He was the acting Administrator of Tokelau from 2009 until 2011.[1]

Allen had previous worked as chief executive of NZ Post. In April 2009 he was appointed chief executive of the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade,[2] becoming the first non-diplomat to lead MFAT.[3] His tenure was controversial, with restructuring plans resulting in widespread opposition from staff,[4] and in leaks of MFAT cables to the opposition.[5] In 2014 he was forced to apologise to rape victim Tania Billingsley over his handling of the 2014 Malaysian diplomat indecent assault case.[6] He resigned from the role in November 2014 to take up a role with the New Zealand Racing Board.[7][8] He was replaced as chief executive by Brook Barrington.[9]

In September 2019 he resigned from the racing board.[10] In 2020 he was appointed chief executive of WellingtonNZ.[11] In October 2021 he was elected chancellor of Victoria University of Wellington.[12]

  1. ^ "Countries T". rulers.org. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
  2. ^ Allan Swann (30 April 2009). "Mfat culture change to be led by NZ Post CEO John Allen". National Business Review. Archived from the original on 12 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Allen's exit opens up ministry job". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  4. ^ "Allen wants to see through Mfat changes". Stuff. 18 May 2012. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  5. ^ "MFAT staff cable leaks continue". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  6. ^ Penfold, Paula (9 July 2014). "Woman at centre of Malaysian diplomat case speaks out". 3 News. Archived from the original on 27 November 2014. Retrieved 15 November 2014.
  7. ^ "Pressure over new MFAT boss decision". RNZ. 27 November 2014. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  8. ^ "Mfat chief executive John Allen moves to NZ Racing Board". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  9. ^ "Brook Barrington, state sector veteran, named head of MFAT". National Business Review. 3 March 2015. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
  10. ^ "Racing: Top boss John Allen set to let go reins". New Zealand Herald. 17 September 2019. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  11. ^ Damian George (28 April 2020). "John Allen named as new WellingtonNZ chief executive". Stuff. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  12. ^ "New chancellor elected to Victoria University". Stuff. 21 October 2021. Retrieved 26 November 2022.

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