Canberra, Feb 23 (IANS): The CEO of Australia's state-run postal service quit on Thursday, two weeks after he faced a backlash for taking a salary of 5.6 million Australian dollars ($4.3 million) last financial year.

Ahmed Fahour took home more than 10 times Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's salary in 2016 and was the highest paid public servant, moving the Premier to criticise the pay packet as "too high", Xinhua news agency reported.

After two weeks of speculation over Fahour's future at the company, an Australia Post statement confirmed the CEO had resigned at a board meeting overnight.

However, Fahour told News Corp the decision to leave his post was not made in relation to the salary scandal but that, after seven years in the position, it was time to "move on".

"The main reason why I am hanging up the footy boots at Australia Post is I've done seven years in this job -- the average CEO in this country is lasting around three years," Fahour said.