Whether bras or ball games, park chief focuses on his job

What makes your day at work?

Positive customer feedback and recognition by patrons of service given by staff. I do enjoy sport - it's a very exciting and interesting environment to be in - however, I don't enjoy the games themselves as much as I used to because I'm more focused about what's going on around the game. We've got a large responsibility for public safety and patron enjoyment.

It's also still a buzz for me that I'm allowed to do this job - it's an honour and privilege to be able to work with people like Sir Wilson Whineray and New Zealand's other great sportspeople. You get to know them as more than just sports figures.

How did you get where you are today?

I've been fortunate in my career that I've had the opportunity to progress at a very early age. When I was 26 I was running a department [at Marks & Spencers in Britain] that turned over $600 million. I was responsible for the bottom-line profits.

I'm the kind of person that rises to a challenge and everything I've done in my working life has pushed me a bit harder and further.

I'm also very focused. For example, when I was 21 I worked as the lingerie buyer [for Marks & Spencers]. My friends used to say: "I bet you spend all day looking at women in their underwear" - and I did, but in real life situations I found myself saying: "Oh, I recognise that bra, it's $14.99" - instead of concentrating on the real thing!

What pitfalls have you experienced in your career?

I work in a highly political environment where you have people who are paid to be here, people who are volunteers - some people perceive it to be their life.

I find that often if I have tried to do everything myself I meet more opposition because you need a commonality of support from all those groups.

One thing I hope to avoid is not being there for my family. My father worked very hard to build his business and used to go overseas Monday night to Sunday night - which gave me no real childhood with [him].

What is your advice to someone starting out?

Take every opportunity and experience in life for what it is, a chance to learn and develop skills no matter what the outcome is at the time.

I didn't enjoy university - I enjoyed socialising and playing rugby - but not the overall experience. If I hadn't done it, though, my career would not have gone the way it did and I wouldn't have got on the development fast-track.

What's the biggest challenge for your organisation?

Making the shift as an organisation from simply a facility provider to a service organisation which manages and develops those facilities to maximise the benefit for Auckland Rugby and Auckland Cricket.

At a simpler level, encouraging people to experience their sport from within the venue in preference to watching television and more broadly creating an environment that allows our sports to compete with other forms of entertainment, like theatre, cinemas and restaurants, who also seek consumer dollars.

What's one thing you would have done differently in your business life?

There is not any one thing I would have done differently, there may have been a number of things which haven't gone my way and I wouldn't choose to experience them again, but I feel stronger from having lived through them.

What is your ambition?

I'd like to manage an international, New Zealand-based organisation and also work in North America at some point. Right now, I'm very focused on finishing the development at Eden Park.

How do you relax?

In my personal time I keep myself fit at Bodytech doing high intensity weight training which is a great way to manage stress and focus your mind.

I spend most of my relaxation time with my wife and two girls at the play ground or enjoying Auckland's cafes, and at home I relax by cooking for family and friends.

* Martin Weekes spoke with Dita De Boni.

MARTIN WEEKES

Chief executive, Eden Park Board of Control.

Turnover:$8 million-plus

Assets:$100 million

Employees:13 full-time, up to 1500 part-time on game days.

Age:33 years.