TAB NZ announces first board appointments
TAB NZ has announced the members of its first board created under the Racing Act passed in 2020.
New Zealand.- Grant Robertson, New Zealand’s racing minister, has announced who will be the members of the first TAB NZ Board.
The TAB NZ Board was created under the Racing Act passed in 2020. The act establishes a selection panel to make recommendations to the racing minister.
Robertson said: “The selection panel has taken particular care to work thoroughly through the process to identify suitable candidates. I thank them for their work.
“I am excited to have the new Board in place. This is a significant step for TAB New Zealand. I also want to thank the interim Board for the work it has done to help get us to this point.”
The board includes three people nominated by the racing codes and up to four other members who have a range of knowledge and experience outlined in the Act.
According to Robertson, all of the selected members come with experience in racing and sport administration, business and governance, the betting industry, broadcasting and gambling harm minimisation.
The board will comprise:
- Mark Stewart: chairman of the board, with experience in governance background, including in sports and recreation.
- Anna Stove: deputy chair. Stove was a member of the interim Board, and brings strong commercial acumen and racing sector knowledge.
- Bill Birnie: one of the members nominated by the racing codes. Birnie has worked in the racing and sport sectors and in audit and risk governance.
- Paul Bittar: another of the members nominated by the racing codes. Bittar worked in the racing and sport sectors in Australia and New Zealand and has experience in wagering.
- Jason Fleming: the third member nominated by the racing codes. He has experience in the racing industry and worked across all aspects of Class 4 gaming.
- Wendie Harvey: a gambling Commissioner with experience in strategy, business and culture transformation.
- Raewyn Lovett: director at Sport NZ. Lovett has experience in sports administration and corporate law.
According to Robertson, the first TAB NZ board will start its activities by August 1. All of the members have been appointed for a term of three years, up to July 2024.
In January, TAB NZ reported for the first half of the 2020/2021 financial year, net profit reached $94.5m, which was $25.9m ahead of budget.
