American executive Cindy Hook has been appointed the inaugural chief executive of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Organizing Committee.
Hook’s appointment comes after she stepped down as chief executive of Deloitte Asia Pacific in Singapore earlier this year to return to the US.
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She had previously worked for the international professional services network in the US and Australia, moving to Sydney in 2009 to lead the auditing practice for six years and later becoming chief executive of the Australian operation in 2015.
She then took on the same role for Deloitte Asia Pacific after relocating to Singapore in 2018.
Hook said: “The opportunity to lead the Olympics and Paralympics is once in a lifetime.
“The idea of setting up the organization, building the team, creating a vision, and driving to a smooth delivery of Brisbane 2032 is very exciting, and I expect it will be both challenging and rewarding.”
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By GlobalDataThe organizing committee for Brisbane 2032 announced it was in the process of recruiting a chief executive in July.
At the time, it said the position will have overall responsibility for operations and the finances of the game working closely with the president and board of Brisbane 2032 to develop and execute the strategy for the games.
It added it was seeking candidates with a deep understanding of Australia, its people, places, and culture.
Hook will be moving to the Queensland state capital and starting the new role in February, which will see her lay foundations to ensure the games will be cost-neutral for the country.
She added: “Today, we’re really a startup. We’re basically forming a business and we’ve got to set the foundations that will serve us well for the next 10 years.
“I’m an auditor by background and an accounting graduate – so, I’ve got that at my core.
“In business, to balance a budget you have to make choices, which means you can’t do everything you want … we’re going to figure out how much money we can bring in … and then we are going to live within our means.”
Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris said: “Her track record at Deloitte and Deloitte Australia and Deloitte Asia Pacific speaks for itself.
“Not to mention her ability to grow revenues and manage expenses and a lot of people. These sorts of qualities came through, as did her desire and passion.
“I’m so pleased that we’ve found someone with a deep affinity for Australia while also understanding what is required to turn Brisbane 2032 into a household name across the world.”
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) awarded Brisbane hosting rights to the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games in July last year under a revamped process that saw a small group of IOC members identify and propose host cities to the board.
It will be the third time Australia has hosted the Summer Olympics after Melbourne 1956 and Sydney 2000.
The 2032 organizing committee held its first board meeting in April.
Matt Carroll, Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) chief executive, said: “The AOC looks forward to providing her with every support needed to deliver a games that Australia will be proud of, and the world’s athletes will remember with great affection throughout their lives.
“The job of the Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games is to ensure that Brisbane, Queensland, and Australia deliver an Olympic and Paralympic Games of impeccable quality, with the world’s athletes at its heart.
“This requires a chief executive with exceptional financial acumen, the capacity to build teams and networks as well as manage a very complex stakeholder environment. To these requirements, you can add the creation of a culture that will enable the Brisbane Games to succeed.
“We are very fortunate in having Cindy Hook ready to step up to this challenge with the calm assurance of a skilled and experienced leader."
