The chief executive of VicTrack, Campbell Rose, has left the government rail agency after 12 months of unexplained “extended leave”.

Rose went on leave but stayed on as chief executive after the government lost $20 million on the Eloque joint venture between VicTrack and Xerox to remotely monitor bridges for cracks and other structural deficiencies.

Campbell Rose has been on leave from his role as chief executive of VicTrack for the past year. Credit:Paul Jones

The joint venture was scrapped in mid-2022, just 16 months after it was set up.

The departure of Rose, who was previously chief executive of the Western Bulldogs, was announced this week in an email sent to staff by VicTrack chair Geraldine Gray, a copy of which has been seen by The Age.

“As many of you will be aware, chief executive Campbell Rose has been on leave since late February 2022, I can now advise you that Mr Rose’s employment at VicTrack has been concluded,” Gray said in the email. “I acknowledge that this has been a challenging period for VicTrack and on behalf of the board I would like to thank the entire VicTrack team for your hard work and professionalism in continuing to support the operation of the transport system.”

Gray said deputy chief executive Chris Olds would continue as acting chief executive of VicTrack for “the forseeable future”.

An investigation by Victoria’s public sector financial watchdog is considering whether bias influenced the state government’s investment into Eloque.

The probe came after The Age revealed in October that Victoria paid almost $10 million to install Eloque sensors on state bridges despite, the devices not working as expected.

Eloque’s Australian business is being wound up and its liquidators PwC are being paid $12,500. No money will be returned to Victorian taxpayers.

Rose also came under scrutiny after he anonymously donated more than $13,000 of his own money to help former senior public servant in the Victorian Transport Department Nick Foa and former chief executive of City of Melbourne Justin Hanney compete in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

The state government and VicTrack have been contacted for comment.

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