Australian fast ferry specialist Austal has begun the search for a new chief financial officer after the present incumbent resigned.
Greg Jason is to leave the Australian-listed shipbuilder after 15 years to "take an extended break", Austal said in a regulatory filing.
He held the post of CFO for nine years as well as stints in finance and operational roles. He will leave the company in December.
"Similar to previous senior management changes at Austal, Greg will assist in the search and transition process to appoint a new CFO," Austal said.
"Helping establish shipbuilding operations in Asia and overseeing Austal’s dynamic operations across several continents over a prolonged period of time has been a fulfilling journey," Jason said.
“The time is right to take a break and spend some time with my family before assessing and pursuing new opportunities.”
Austal chief executive officer Paddy Gregg said Jason is leaving the company in a "strong financial position".
"Greg has played a key role in the financial stewardship of Austal, enabling the company to grow its industry-leading capabilities across the globe, including Australia, the US and the broader Asian region," Gregg said.
"On a personal level, I enjoyed working with Greg for the past four and a half years, and on behalf of the Austal Board and executive team we sincerely wish him the best in his future endeavours."
In early August, Austal secured a newbuilding contract for a 66-metre, high-speed catamaran in a deal worth €20.5m ($24m).
Work on the ferry, which has been ordered by repeat customer the Degage Group of French Polynesia, is due to start immediately with delivery set for early 2023.
Austal recently reported its second highest ever net profit for a fiscal year, of AUD 114.6m ($83.3m). This was despite revenue declining by 24.6% to $1.57bn.
