Yachting New Zealand’s Chief Executive Des Brennan has announced his resignation as of the end of September 2010. He will take on a new challenging job as a Marketing Director at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.

Des Brennan of Yachting New Zealand

“My time as Chief Executive has been exciting and greatly rewarding. Sport is a special enterprise and sailing for me has always been the absolute sport,” says Brennan.

“I joined Yachting New Zealand early in 2005 following disappointing international results in the preceding Olympic cycle. The organisation lacked clarity of purpose and was under resourced. Today we have a great team of people at Yachting New Zealand. They will continue to take sailing forward.”

“I have been offered and accepted the role of Marketing Director at New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. The role is exciting and challenging – not unlike sport. For me this was an irresistible opportunity to be involved in assisting NZ business success on the world stage.”

Jan Dawson, Yachting New Zealand’s President, comments; “In the six years of his leadership, Des has provided strategic direction, built strong relationships with our partner funders and sponsors and developed a high performing management team. We will miss Des and we thank him and we wish him luck in his new position.”

The process of finding a new Chief Executive for Yachting New Zealand is now underway.