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Pacific Office Automation CEO on indefinite leave following revelations of sexual abuse conviction and assault allegations

Posted on by darion

Doug Pitassi, the longtime Oregon executive who built Pacific Office Automation from a sleepy copy company into a half-billion-dollar company, took an indefinite leave of absence Wednesday following explosive sexual assault allegations from former employees.

“With POA’s best interests at heart, Doug has decided to step away from his responsibilities as president/CEO and take a leave of absence from the company,” two top executives wrote in an email to Pacific Office Automation’s 1,400 employees. “This was not an easy decision for Doug.”

Pacific Office Automation and Doug Pitassi: Timeline

1976: Terry Newsom founded Pacific Office Automation, then known as Pacific Photocopy.

1985: Doug Pitassi graduates from Portland State University.

1987: Pitassi convicted of two misdemeanors, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a minor. He was a teacher at Centennial High School at the time; both victims were teenage boys who attended the school.

1989: Pacific Office Automation hires Pitassi as sales manager. He is eventually promoted to vice president of sales.

2007: Pitassi appointed president of the company.

2011: Hiring of Colin McCarthy.

2018: Pitassi becomes CEO of Pacific Office Automation.

2022: McCarthy settles his claims against Pitassi and Pacific Office Automation for $1.85 million and signs a non-disclosure agreement. Two other former employees entered into confidential settlements with the company and Pitassi.

2023: Lawsuit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court alleging that Pitassi sexually assaulted other young male employees.

2024: Doug Pitassi takes indefinite leave and leaves Pacific Office Automation.