AusLeisure

The Eden Park Trust has released a statement backing Chief Executive Nick Sautner following media reports in New Zealand relating to his redundancy from Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium in 2013.

With Sautner having promoted an increasingly commercial approach to the management of the Auckland venue, including plans for entertainment events and concerts while also introducing a zip line attraction, local opponents have appear to have delved into his departure from Etihad Stadium five years ago.

Sautner has worked at Eden Park since June 2016, when he joined the venue as General Manager Commercial, before being named Chief Executive as of November last year.

Prior to joining Eden Park, Sautner, a former Victorian Football League star, had been Chief Operating Officer at the WA Football Commission between 2013 and 2015, before briefly working with healthcare solutions provider REDiMED.

However, it was his departure from Etihad Stadium that has today been the focus of media attention in Auckland.

Having been employed in various roles at Etihad Stadium over 12 years, progressing to the position of Chief Commercial Officer/General Manager until 2013 when he was made redundant. 

The matter was then the subject of lengthy court proceedings with Sautner seeking payment following his redundancy from the operators of Melbourne's Etihad Stadium before that decision was overruled in Australia’s Federal Court in March 2015.

The Trust today released a statement advising that the reports were “not new information” and that it had “no reason” to question Sautner’s 2016 appointment.

Clarifying Sautner’s recruitment, Chairman Doug McKay advised that previous Eden Park Chief Executive Guy Ngata had informed him of the Australian court case Sautner was involved in prior to his appointment.

The Trust’s statement advised that Ngata made “significant enquiries” over the matter, explaining that “once Sautner began his role at Eden Park, it became clear to the Board that he was the model of propriety and had the ability to lead the team after spending 13 years working at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne.”

The statement continued “when considering appointing him to CEO, The Eden Park Trust’s Board agreed on an additional full round of due diligence on Sautner. It was mandated that McKay personally contacted the referees who knew Sautner during that period of his life to understand the situation firsthand.

“These referees included some of Australia’s leading businessmen, sports and stadia industry experts as well as the head of the Competition Integrity Department at the Australian Football League (AFL). These individuals were supportive of Sautner and believe he has been unfairly tarnished.

“The details of Sautner’s court case proceedings in Australia are complicated however it has been agreed the allegations do not have any bearing on his role at Eden Park and there was no subsequent action taken in respect of any of these findings, which are a repetition of claims made by his previous employer.”

McKay went on to explain “since starting with us, both the Board and I have been delighted with Nick’s drive, work ethic and high integrity. Nick’s ever-growing ability to lead our team has been impressive to date.

“It has been especially pleasing to see the community engagement and local relationships Nick has fostered over the last few years. There hasn’t been a single incident which has given me cause to doubt him and unless he proves me wrong Nick Sautner has our full support.”

The statement concluded that Sautner and the Eden Park team remain committed to ensuring it is utilised for not only cricket and rugby but all other recreational, musical and cultural events for the benefit of the public of the region.

Australasian Leisure Management presented Sautner and the Eden Park team with its Business Award at the 2017 Leisure Industry Communication and Marketing Summit. 

Images: Nick Sautner (top) and on the Eden Park turf with a colleague (below).

Article amended 23rd July 2018.

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