Tennis: Auckland searches for new boss

Photo / Thinsktock

They had few problems securing one of the world's most glamorous stars to play in their showpiece women's tournament, but Tennis Auckland is having far more difficulty finding and holding on to a chief executive.

The board is about to embark on a search for a third chief executive in less than three years after incoming boss David Frank, who was to start yesterday, pulled out a week ago.

Frank, who will remain as chief executive of Albany-based Tennis Northern, was to take over from Greig Bramwell, who left in February after 16 months in the job.

Taking over in the interim will be former boss Graham Pearce, who stood down from the role halfway through 2009, though he has remained at Tennis Auckland since then.

It is expected the search for a new chief executive could take up to four months.

Frank said the reasons he did not take the role were "personal" and included the loss of two family members just before Christmas.

"Over a period of time I came to the conclusion that it wasn't for me. It's a huge role ... a lot to take on."

One of the pressure points of the job is a cash debt, thought to be at least $200,000. A large part of that debt is due to one-off costs pertaining to the development of the Stanley St headquarters.

The development will leave Tennis Auckland with a world-class indoor and outdoor facility, the centrepiece of which will be a roofed centrecourt.

"Auckland Tennis is very strong, we've got assets of approximately $20 million," chairman Alan Chester said.

"We could do with a bit more loose change around but it is nothing we can't solve in the near future."

Chester admitted it was "very frustrating" for the board to be on the lookout for another chief executive so soon after deciding that Frank was their man.

"It was a step up for him, we knew it was, but he's done a great job over at Tennis North Harbour," Chester said.

The search for a boss comes at a critical juncture in the organisation's history.

Buoyed by the success of the sold-out ASB Classic in January, a feat achieved largely by the appearance of former world No 1 Maria Sharapova, Auckland Tennis is negotiating the television rights for the Classic and Heineken Opens in 2012 and beyond.

It is understood that while Heineken is relaxed about moving to Sky TV, ASB would be more comfortable staying with TVNZ and the exposure that guarantees them on nightly news bulletins.