Two executives at the scandal-plagued childcare chain Affinity Education Group have resigned.
The moves come amid a difficult period for one of the nation’s largest childcare chains after multiple child sexual offences were laid against a former employee, Joshua Brown, in July.
In a statement, Affinity Education Group said its chief executive, Tim Hickey, and its chief operating officer, Nishad Alani, had stepped down from their roles and left the organisation.
A spokesperson said Affinity Education Group’s board had appointed Glen Hurley, its senior adviser for compliance and quality, as the incoming CEO. He began the role on Tuesday.
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The reason for the two high-profile departures was not provided by the childcare group.
“Affinity remains deeply committed to providing safe, high-quality care to the families across our entire network and supporting our dedicated, professional team who nurture and educate the children in their care with compassion and integrity,” a spokesperson said.
The spokesperson said Hurley, who had previously worked in the aged care sector in a variety of senior executive roles, brought “deep experience” and “operational insight” to the role.
Affinity runs 250 childcare centres in Australia, including centres under the brand name Papilio Early Learning.
In July, Victoria police charged Brown, who worked at childcare centres run by Affinity, with more than 70 offences relating to eight alleged victims, aged between five months and two years old.
Brown worked at 11 Affinity childcare centres in Victoria during 2024, according to a list on its website.
Guardian Australia previously reported on bosses at Australia’s largest for-profit childcare providers receiving bonuses worth up to $500,000 last year, despite multiple safety breaches and the employment of a man subsequently charged with multiple child sexual offences.
The salaries sparked calls for boards to consider clawing back some of money, given outrage over safety failures and recent apologies from CEOs.
Appearing before a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry into the childcare sector last month, Hickey said he was not sure whether his bonus payments of up to about $300,000 had been docked as a result of safety breaches.
The inquiry was told that breaches at Affinity childcare centres were 70% higher than the NSW average in 2024, up from 30% in 2021 when the company was bought by Quadrant Private Equity.
The inquiry heard allegations that one of these breaches included a child being used as a “human mop” to wipe up their own vomit on two occasions.
Hickey told the inquiry his total pay package had increased over the past three years. His base salary was $625,000, the inquiry heard.
Hickey said 90% of Affinity’s centres had either met or exceeded the national quality standard.
“I can say without doubt that recent events are more troubling than any I’ve seen in that time – and I am absolutely committed to doing everything within my control to ensure this never happens again,” he said.
