Graham Sheffield's sudden resignation as chief executive of the West Kowloon Cultural District comes at an inauspicious time, with the HK$21.6 billion project just about to make its big leap forward.
The other eight senior management positions on its governing body have been filled and the authorities are expected to choose one out of the three conceptual master plans for the district within the next three months.
Sheffield's departure is a big shock. The full impact of his resignation will only become clear with time.
His departure will not bring the development to a halt - six committees, including one for museums and another for performing arts, were set up to ensure the various projects could be delivered on time.
Some may even argue that since the project has not reached a stage where crucial decisions have to be made, Sheffield's resignation will not leave the project in the lurch.
But others point out that the former artistic director of the Barbican Centre in London had already made progress on a number of plans, especially for venues for the performing arts. These will now have to be put on the back burner.
His departure also means there will be no leadership in the immediate future to give the various work committees a unified vision. Although the six committees are made up of professionals experienced in their specialised fields, they have not worked together before. A project as big as this really calls for a strong leader who can ensure the different groups get the right team dynamics.