Wine Industry Association of Western Australia chief executive Kim Pervan has left the organisation after only four months in the job.
She is the fourth person to leave the position in the past four years.
Ms Pervan, formerly CBH Group corporate affairs manager, took over in March after the resignation of Sarah Dent.
Comments by Ms Dent regarding a glut of red wine in Western Australia provoked uproar from a section of the wine industry.
Evans and Tate chairman Franklin Tate quit the association not long after.
Ms Pervan said her decision to leave the organisation was based on the role failing to meet her expectations of the position.
“After four months in the position I took a look at it very carefully and it became apparent that the role had not met my expectations and I submitted my resignation,” Ms Pervan said.
Ms Pervan resigned last Friday evening, effective immediately, and member services manager Sue Vidovich is acting as chief executive officer. Ms Vidovich has been with the organisation for about nine years.
She said the executive committee would meet next week to look at the different options.
It has been a tumultuous recent past for the State’s wine industry body.
Ms Dent, who was in the job for about two years, replaced Tamara Gorrie (nee Stevens) in December 2001.
Ms Gorrie was in the role for about 18 months but quit after deciding to relocate to Melbourne where she is now chief executive officer of the Australian Gold Council.
Ms Gorrie replaced David McCulloch who had been in the job for about 12 months and quit to take up a role with The Perth Mint.
Ms Pervan’s departure comes amidst industry speculation that the association will produce a loss in earnings this year.
WIAWA is WA’s peak representative body for wine grape growers, wine producers and distributors.
WIAWA president John Griffiths did not return phone calls made by WA Business News at the time the newspaper went to press.
