The senior NSW government service member who appointed the former deputy premier to a high-paid overseas position is on leave and has reportedly quit one of her roles.
Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade head and Investment NSW boss Amy Brown was named in an independent review criticising her involvement in John Barilaro's appointment.
Nine newspapers on Tuesday reported Ms Brown will leave Investment NSW, with a new chief executive to report to her as secretary of the Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade.
Ms Brown has now gone on leave, a spokesperson for the Department of Premier and Cabinet said on Tuesday.
The spokesperson said department secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter had begun "formal discussions" with Ms Brown in the wake of the review.
"That process has been paused for four weeks as Ms Brown has taken leave following the intense public examination of her role in the STIC Americas recruitment process," the spokesperson said.
"Her privacy should be respected at this time."
The Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner Americas role came with a $500,000 taxpayer-funded salary to spruik NSW to businesses overseas.
Former trade minister Stuart Ayres resigned this month after a draft excerpt from the Head review "raised questions" about whether he had breached the ministerial code of conduct with his involvement.
Earlier in August, the review into the bungled appointment by former NSW public service commissioner Graeme Head found Mr Barilaro's employment was not kept at arm's length from government.
Mr Head's review found Ms Brown had been indirectly influenced by then-trade minister Mr Ayres' preference for who took the New York-based role.
Upon the release of the report, Premier Dominic Perrottet said the appointment process was "flawed from the outset".
"The entire process that has been undertaken has been incredibly disappointing," the premier said.
Investment NSW has been contacted for comment.
