A spokesperson for SafeWork SA confirmed to InDaily late yesterday that the regulator’s executive director Martyn Campbell would leave in late January after almost six years in the role.

They said Campbell had accepted a position in the private sector, which was “suitable to his personal circumstances”.

It comes as the state government waits on the findings of a “root and branch review” of SafeWork SA, announced in September and due by the end of this year.

The review is being led by former chair and executive director of WorkSafe Victoria John Merritt, who has been tasked with probing SafeWork SA’s compliance and enforcement functions, as well as the engagement between the regulator and other government agencies in monitoring workplace safety.

Labor announced its intention to commission the review ahead of the March state election, promising it would ensure “a genuine voice for workers in complaint and resolution processes”.

Campbell will continue as executive director into the new year before leaving the role in late January.

“This will allow Mr Campbell to receive the Independent Review into SafeWork SA, begin implementing any recommendations and handover to the new Executive Director following a recruitment process,” the SafeWork SA spokesperson said.

The agency did not say whether it would appoint an interim executive director while it searches for a new leader.

During his tenure as SafeWork SA executive director, Campbell oversaw high-profile workplace safety investigations including probes into the controversial Adelaide Crows 2018 pre-season camp and the murder of APY Lands nurse Gayle Woodford.

His departure comes ahead of a SafeWork SA industrial consultative committee meeting between the regulator, unions and business leaders later today.