Search for new TAB NZ CEO underway

New Zealand’s Racing Industry Transition Agency (RITA) has announced that recruitment is underway to find the first chief executive of TAB NZ following the completion of the country’s racing reform process.

Executive recruitment specialist Caldwell Partners has been appointed to conduct the search, with a brief to identify a candidate with “proven experience in Australasia across the wagering, gaming or similar sectors”.

“Recruitment is underway for a CEO to lead TAB NZ into a new era, utilising the strong existing platform to move the business to a truly commercial operation, redefining the TAB NZ brand for a highly successful and sustainable future, working alongside the TAB NZ Board, executive leadership team, racing Industry codes and governing bodies to achieve this,” RITA said.

“Initially this role will also involve oversight of the completion of transitioning activities from RITA to TAB NZ.”

The new hire will replace John Allen, who announced he was to resign at the end of 2019 in September. RITA chairman Dean McKenzie has stepped into the role of executive director until a new CEO is hired.

RITA is set to transform into TAB NZ in June 2020, when a bill filed in December last year comes into effect. This establishes the operator as the only entity that can legally offer betting on racing and sports in New Zealand, with the power to launch new products, as well forming the Racing Integrity Board as the country's anti-corruption watchdog.

It follows the Racing Reform Act which came into force in July 2019, repealing New Zealand's betting levy and allowing for a point of consumption tax and fees for the use of betting information to be imposed on offshore operators.