* Chairman resigns following investor concerns about exec conduct
* AMP Capital's head to step down, resume work at previous level
* He had been promoted in June following conduct investigation
* AMP's initial response inadequate, today signals change -ACSI (Adds Pahari, AMP comments on inappropriate conduct in paragraphs 8-10)
By Paulina Duran and Byron Kaye
SYDNEY, Aug 24 (Reuters) - Australian wealth manager AMP Ltd AMP.AX on Monday said its chairman had resigned and the chief executive of its funds management unit would be demoted, following concerns about alleged inappropriate conduct by the latter.
AMP's board, chaired by David Murray, appointed Boe Pahari to head its AMP Capital in June, despite an internal investigation regarding comments made by Pahari to a female colleague in 2017 that found he had breached the company's code of conduct.
"Although the Board's decision on the appointment was unanimous, my decision to leave reflects my role and accountability as Chairman of the Board and the need to protect continuity of management, the strategy and, to the extent possible, the Board," Murray said in a statement to the exchange.
Murray's exit marks one of corporate Australia's highest profile casualties as complaints about gender-based misconduct upend workplaces around the world.
Murray was CEO of the country's biggest lender, Commonwealth Bank of Australia CBA.AX , for 13 years and held several senior government advisory roles before being called in to stabilise AMP following a separate scandal in 2018.
He added that the company had "always treated the complaint against Mr Pahari seriously" and that although there was strong support for AMP's strategy, "some shareholders did not consider Mr Pahari's promotion to AMP Capital CEO to be appropriate".
Debra Hazelton, a non-executive director, will replace Murray, while Pahari will step down as chief executive of AMP Capital and resume work at his previous level, the company said.
AMP said it had imposed financial and non-financial penalties on Pahari after an investigation in 2017 found he was involved in a "relatively modest breach" of its code of conduct. It said Pahari's comments were "unacceptable".
"I deeply regret the events in 2017, and I apologise to (the colleague involved)," Pahari said in a statement on Monday.
"I also acknowledge the significant impact the matter has had on our clients, our people and AMP's shareholders," he said, adding he had stepped down as AMP Capital's chief to minimise disruption to the business.
Simon Mawhinney, a fund manager at Allan Gray, one of the AMP shareholders that had considered Pahari's promotion inappropriate, said change was needed to create a safe workplace.
"AMP's actions on this matter have now been decisive," he said.
Louise Davidson, CEO of the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors, said AMP's initial response to concerns around Pahari's appointment and the conduct claims was "inadequate".
However, she said, "today's announcements signal change in the organisation."