After apparently chasing off long-serving staff and officers of Australia's Printing Industries Association, recently-appointed chief executive Jason Allen is himself leaving.

Print trade magazine Print21 has reported that Allen resigned "just before Christmas" and is moving with his wife to the UK "for a career opportunity".

His brief tenure - he was appointed less than six months ago - has seen the departures of a number of staff and appears to have divided members.

As the group relocated its headquarters from Auburn to Chatswood late last November, resignations were announced not only in Sydney but around the country. Katie Stokes took over as WA sales manager following Paul Nieuwhof's resignation, and acting Victoria & Tasmania manager Jenny Berry resigned in September.

In Sydney, national communication, technology and creative service director Joe Kowalewski (21 years with the organisation) and accounts business support officer Michelle Staszak (nine years) were not making the move to Chatswood.

It appears one of Kowalewski's last jobs may have been to pen the press release announcing his departure, in which Allen's name is spelled incorrectly.

Print21 says Allen's resignation, citing "personal reasons", came as a surprise. It credits him with reshaping the association, "firing and forcing the resignations of a number of senior staff across the country".

President David Leach is quoted saying he played a "significant role" in transforming the group, and "fervently pursued his vision for the realignment of PIAA".

Since Allen's appointment, former president Susan Heaney has also resigned from its board. Print21 notes that former chief executive Bill Healey - who is working on special projects until May - will outlast him.