Jon Linehan, AustSafe chief executive officer, has left the Brisbane-based fund to return to Melbourne for ‘family reasons’.

He will be replaced by Craig Stephens, Superpartners branch head in Brisbane. Linehan was previously general manager at Australian Unity but left there late 2004, and joined AustSafe early last year. He was also chief executive of HostPlus until 2002 when current chief David Elia took over the reins. AustSafe has just under $700 million in funds under management and 150,000 members. Stephens will join the fund on October 9, 2006. Ashby Utting, AustSafe fund secretary confirmed that it was Linehan’s decision to leave the fund for family reasons. Linehan and Stephens are both on leave and could not be contacted for this story.