Alex Malley

The son of Maltese-Greek parents, Malley grew up in the inner Sydney suburb of Strathfield, where he attended Trinity Grammar School. In 1980–1985, Malley attended the University of New South Wales, receiving a Bachelor of Commerce in 1983, and a Master of Commerce in 1985.{{cite news |title=No Fear, No Embarrassment: Alex Malley Inspires at Career Mentor Closing Ceremony |url=https://www.unsw.edu.au/news/2015/10/no-fear--no-embarrassment--alex-malley-inspires-at-career-mentor |access-date=4 September 2023 |publisher=UNSW |date=26 October 2015 |format=Media Release}}{{cite news |title=Meet the boss: Alex Malley, Chief executive, CPA Australia |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/the-deal-magazine/meet-the-boss-alex-malley-chief-executive-cpa-australia-appointed-october-2009/news-story/ffa486385d832787f589338421eadb1b |access-date=4 September 2023 |publisher=The Australian |date=19 April 2013}}

Malley began his career working in finance at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.{{cite news|last1=Patrick|first1=Aaron|last2=Durkin|first2=Patrick|title=CPA Australia's Alex Malley: the world's most ambitious accountant|url=http://www.afr.com/news/policy/tax/cpa-australias-alex-malley-the-worlds-most-ambitious-accountant-20170607-gwm3zh|accessdate=21 March 2018|agency=Australian Financial Review|date=13 June 2017}} He quit the job and began working as a finance lecturer first at the University of Western Sydney, and then as an accounting academic at Macquarie University from 1993. In 2006, Malley was an associate professor in accounting and was allegedly allowed to resign his position at the university, including his elected position on the university council, under a confidential settlement reached following complaints that he allegedly directed many of his first-year students to undertake paid tutorials through his wife's company, in return for bonus marks in his courses.{{cite news |last1=Aston |first1=Joe |title=CPA's Alex Malley's confidential Macquarie Uni exit |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/cpas-alex-malley-allowed-to-resign-from-macquarie-university-20170326-gv6nju |access-date=4 September 2023 |publisher=The Australian Financial Review |date=26 March 2017}}

Following his departure from Macquarie University, in late 2006 Malley was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand. Malley left this role in late 2009, when he was appointed CEO of CPA Australia; he remained a director of the Urological Society until November 2015 and on his departure was awarded honorary membership of the society.{{cite web |title=Executive 2006/07 |url=http://www.usanz.org.au/the_society/governance.jsp?a=1124765001 |publisher=Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand |access-date=4 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901212205/http://www.usanz.org.au/the_society/governance.jsp?a=1124765001 |archive-date=1 September 2007}}{{cite web |title=2009/10 Board of Directors composition |url=http://www.usanz.org.au/2009-10-board-of-directors-composition/ |publisher=Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand |access-date=4 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012184608/http://www.usanz.org.au/2009-10-board-of-directors-composition/ |archive-date=12 October 2009}}{{cite web |title=Executive Management Group > Alex Malley FCPA - Chief Executive Officer |url=http://www.usanz.org.au/executive-management-group/ |publisher=Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand |access-date=4 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012171022/http://www.usanz.org.au/executive-management-group/ |archive-date=12 October 2009}}{{cite news |last1=Aston |first1=Joe |title=Macquarie University bequeathed Alex Malley to CPA Australia members |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/macquarie-university-bequested-alex-malley-to-cpa-australia-members-20170326-gv6n1m |access-date=4 September 2023 |publisher=The Australian Financial Review |date=26 March 2017}}{{cite web |title=2015 Annual Report |url=https://usanz.org.au/files/Not%20Secured/INFO%20RES/Publications/USANZ%20Annual%20Reports/AnnualReport2015USANZ.pdf |publisher=Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand |access-date=4 September 2023}}

In 1998, Malley was elected to the NSW divisional council of the professional accounting body, CPA Australia, and in 2000 unsuccessfully applied to be the NSW division's director. However, in 2003 Malley became president of the NSW Division of CPA Australia, and then one of 16 national directors, rising to be vice-president of the CPA Australia board in 2005, and deputy president in 2006.{{cite web |title=Annual Report 2008 |url=https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/-/media/project/cpa/corporate/documents/about-cpa/our-organisation/annual-report/annual-report-2008.pdf |publisher=CPA Australia |access-date=4 September 2023}} In October 2007 Malley was appointed as the president of CPA Australia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.crikey.com.au/2017/06/05/a-brief-history-of-alex-malleys-unraveling-cpa-fiasco/|title=A brief history of Alex Malley's unraveling CPA fiasco|date=5 June 2017|website=Crikey|access-date=15 June 2017}} In early 2009, Malley stepped down as president and was succeeded by his former Macquarie University colleague, Professor Richard Petty, and was appointed the CEO of the organisation in July 2009, commencing from 12 October 2009.{{cite news |title=CPA Australia elects new president |url=http://cpaaustralia.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/cpa-site/hs.xsl/news-media-release-new-president-announced.html |access-date=4 September 2023 |publisher=CPA Australia |date=3 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208121907/http://cpaaustralia.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/cpa-site/hs.xsl/news-media-release-new-president-announced.html |archive-date=8 December 2010 |format=Media Release}}{{cite news |title=CPA Australia announces new CEO |url=http://cpaaustralia.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/cpa-site/hs.xsl/1184.html |access-date=4 September 2023 |publisher=CPA Australia |date=20 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101208121730/http://cpaaustralia.com.au/cps/rde/xchg/cpa-site/hs.xsl/1184.html |archive-date=8 December 2010 |format=Media Release}}

As CEO of CPA Australia, Malley came under significant criticism in the media and from CPA members in 2017 for his A$1.8 million annual salary and for the significant amounts of CPA funds going towards promoting Malley and his personal interests, such as a paid television show and Malley's book, The Naked CEO. The scandal surrounding Malley, combined with broader member discontent over executive changes that made the board unaccountable and debts accrued from the establishment of a financial planning arm, led to the resignation of the CPA president and two board members by June 2017. The two resigning board members, Richard Alston and Kerry Ryan, cited the presence of "board allies of chief executive Alex Malley" refusing to "allow a wide-ranging review of Mr Malley and the organisation" as their main reason.{{cite news|last1=Aston|first1=Joe|last2=Tadros|first2=Edmund|last3=Patrick|first3=Aaron|last4=Durkin|first4=Patrick|title=Richard Alston quits CPA Australia board over governance|url=http://www.afr.com/business/accounting/richard-alston-quits-cpa-board-over-governance-20170607-gwmemo|accessdate=21 March 2018|agency=Australian Financial Review|date=7 June 2017}}

On 15 June, a further three directors resigned due to the expanding scandal surrounding Malley and the remaining board initiated an "independent review" of all claims made against CPA and its CEO, to be chaired by former chief of the Australian Defence Force, Sir Angus Houston.{{cite news|last1=Aston|first1=Joe|title=Alex Malley: What a difference a year makes|url=http://www.afr.com/news/economy/alex-malley-what-a-difference-a-year-makes-20180123-h0n1o3|accessdate=21 March 2018|agency=Australian Financial Review|date=24 January 2018}} However, even the decision to create the review came under criticism when it was revealed that Houston had appeared as guest on Malley's TV program and had written a glowing foreword in Malley's book.{{cite news|last1=Letts|first1=Stephen|title=CPA chief Alex Malley keeps his job but faces 'fiercely independent' review over ongoing controversy|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-16/cpa-chief-alex-malley-keeps-job-as-review-established/8625388|accessdate=21 March 2018|agency=ABC News|date=16 June 2017}} Houston later resigned his post in favour of former Commonwealth Auditor-General, Ian McPhee.

Facing a significant swelling of discontent amongst CPA members, on 23 June 2017 it was announced that the CPA board had terminated the contract of Malley, resulting in CPA paying out the remainder of his contract to the sum of A$4.9 million.{{cite news|last1=Hobday|first1=Liz|title=CPA terminates contract with chief executive Alex Malley|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-23/cpa-terminates-contract-with-chief-executive-alex-malley/8648212|accessdate=21 March 2018|agency=ABC News|date=24 June 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Aston|first1=Joe|last2=Tadros|first2=Edmund|title=CPA Australia CEO Alex Malley sacked|url=http://www.afr.com/leadership/cpa-australia-ceo-alex-malley-sacked-20170623-gwxn30|accessdate=21 March 2018|agency=Australian Financial Review|date=23 June 2017}} The subsequent review report released in September 2017 found that the "chief executive was overpaid, [CPA Australia] had lost touch with its members and provided questionable value for money for the services it rendered."{{cite news|last1=Letts|first1=Stephen|title=CPA review finds CEO overpaid and organisation 'out of touch' with members|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-14/cpa-review-finds-ceo-overpaid-and-out-of-touch-with-members/8947318|accessdate=21 March 2018|agency=ABC News|date=15 September 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Tadros|first1=Edmund|title=Inside story of Alex Malley's final days at CPA Australia|url=http://www.afr.com/business/accounting/inside-story-of-the-alex-malleys-final-days-at-cpa-australia-20170727-gxjr73|accessdate=21 March 2018|agency=Australian Financial Review|date=7 August 2017}} In addition to CPA's "over-emphasis on marketing and brand building activities that centred on the former CEO", the review in particular noted the excessive CEO's salary, with its many increases over several years not being justified by organisational growth.{{cite news|last1=Pash|first1=Chris|title=CHARTS: How the salary of CPA Australia's chief executive grew faster than membership|url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/charts-how-the-salary-of-cpa-australias-chief-executive-grew-faster-than-membership-2017-9|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914085603/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/charts-how-the-salary-of-cpa-australias-chief-executive-grew-faster-than-membership-2017-9|url-status=dead|archive-date=14 September 2017|accessdate=7 May 2018|agency=Business Insider Australia|date=14 September 2017}}

In January 2019, following the recommendations of the 2018 AGM, Malley and three previous directors (Penny Egan, Richard Petty, and Graeme Wade) were stripped of their Life Memberships by the Board for their involvement in the controversy.{{cite news|last1=Taurian|first1=Katarina|title=Alex Malley, former directors stripped of CPA life memberships|url=https://www.accountantsdaily.com.au/business/12595-alex-malley-former-directors-stripped-of-cpa-life-memberships|agency=accountantsdaily|accessdate=17 Sep 2020|date=31 Jan 2019}}{{cite news |title=Statement from the Board |url=https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/media/media-releases/31-january-2019 |access-date=4 September 2023 |publisher=CPA Australia |date=31 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327123802/https://www.cpaaustralia.com.au/media/media-releases/31-january-2019 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |format=Media Release}}{{cite news |last1=Durkin |first1=Patrick |last2=Tadros |first2=Edmund |title=Fiery CPA AGM calls for stripping Alex Malley's life membership |url=https://www.afr.com/companies/professional-services/fiery-cpa-agm-calls-for-stripping-alex-malleys--life-membership-20180522-h10egb |access-date=4 September 2023 |publisher=The Australian Financial Review |date=22 May 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Aston |first1=Joe |title=Malley, Petty, Wade, Egan stripped of CPA life membership |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/malley-petty-wade-egan-stripped-of-cpa-life-membership-20190130-h1ao77 |access-date=4 September 2023 |publisher=The Australian Financial Review |date=30 January 2019}}

In July 2022, it was revealed that Malley had taken the position of CEO of the Australian Chiropractors Association, which was based at its headquarters in Melbourne. On his appointment, Joe Aston of the Australian Financial Review opined: "The ACA has hired someone even more skilled at manipulation than they are", while the Sydney Morning Herald noted: "Perhaps the back scratchers have short memories ... [Malley is] Proof, if ever, that there’s hope for the cancelled yet."{{cite news |last1=Aston |first1=Joe |title=Alex Malley rises from the ashes |url=https://www.afr.com/rear-window/alex-malley-rises-from-the-ashes-20220705-p5azb3 |publisher=The Australian Financial Review |date=5 July 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Napier-Raman |first1=Kishor |last2=Towell |first2=Noel |title=After Australia's 'first cancel culture example', disgraced former CPA boss Alex Malley is back |url=https://www.smh.com.au/cbd/disgraced-former-cpa-boss-alex-malley-is-back-20220705-p5azaw.html |access-date=3 September 2023 |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=5 July 2022}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Citation | author1=Malley, Alex | title=The Naked CEO: the truth you need to build a big life |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/version/209899190 | publication-date=2015 |location= Milton, QLD| publisher=John Wiley and Sons Australia, Ltd | isbn=978-0-7303-1459-2 }}

{{S-start}}

{{s-npo|pro}}

{{S-bef| before=Geoff Rankin }}

{{S-ttl| title=Chief Executive Officer of CPA Australia | years=2009–2017}}

{{S-aft| after=Adam Awty }}

{{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Malley, Alex}}

Category:Australian accountants

Category:Australian television presenters

Category:Australian people of Greek descent

Category:Australian people of Maltese descent

Category:Living people

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Academic staff of Macquarie University

Category:Australian chief executives

Category:Australian corporate directors

Category:People educated at Trinity Grammar School (New South Wales)

Category:University of New South Wales alumni