Simon Wickham to leave Waitakere City Stadium

MEDIA RELEASE: 9 September 2010

Simon Wickham to leave Waitakere City Stadium Trust
(The Trusts Stadium)

Simon Wickham, CEO of The Trusts Stadium, Waitakere has been appointed Chief Executive of West Auckland based, The Trusts, one of New Zealand’s top 200 companies.

Wickham leaves the stadium in December after 6 years and takes up his new position from February 2011.

The Trusts is the sole wholesaler and principal retailer of liquor in Waitakere City, the operator of numerous restaurants and bars and the recently extensively refurbished Lincoln Green Hotel.

Simon Wickham, previously CEO of Yachting New Zealand, has transformed the multi-million dollar facility The Trusts Stadium into one of New Zealand’s most successful venues, since being appointed as chief executive in 2004. The largest indoor arena of its type in New Zealand, it has become a top sports and events stadium, convention centre and community facility and in 2008, was named top Tourism and Leisure operation in the prestigious Waitakere Business Excellence Awards.

Alongside the Stadium’s growing returns to community users, the Stadium Trust has developed further capital projects including the recent $10million Grandstand and Floodlight projects.

Wickham is regarded as an outstanding manager by his current employers, the Waitakere City Stadium Trust.

“We have had a great run together with Simon and together we’ve built a successful, sustainable and vibrant focal point for our community, a town hall of sorts for West Auckland” says Stadium Trust Chairman, Ross Dallow.

“Whilst we are disappointed to lose a top performer we are also pleased that West Auckland and The Trusts will retain his experience and I am sure he will make a positive impact there as he has done here at The Trusts Stadium”.

Wickham notes “The Stadium has been a very hard place to leave. Having hosted a constant stream of vibrant young people from across our community, alongside a never- ending flow of national and international events and new capital projects such as the grandstand and floodlights, I’ve been kept very well entertained in the role over the years”.

“I’m delighted to win the role for The Trusts and work for another great West Auckland organisation focused on developing commercial returns to support the community” he says Wickham.

“It’s a great opportunity to do so much more for West Auckland and to grow what has been an incredibly successful and responsible business model thanks to retiring Chief Executive Murray Spearman and the team that I look forward to joining in the new year”.

The Trusts Stadium will begin an executive search immediately to seek a replacement Chief Executive. Details regarding this process and timeline will be posted on the Stadium’s website in the near future. www.thetrustsstadium.co.nz.

ENDS