Businessman Frank Spencer has taken on the Touch Hawke's Bay chairman's role as the code gears up for summer in the province after a turbulent two years.
The inaugural meeting of the new Touch Hawke's Bay board on Monday night saw Hastings Boys High School principal Robert Sturch appointed deputychairman, Flaxmere's Louise Hutchinson secretary and Sara Corbett treasurer.
Sport Hawke's Bay chief executive Colin Stone was thrilled with the outcome, following a two-year project plan which included the development of a new constitution, the facilitation of a strategic plan and the re-engineering of the board's governance model.
"This has been a long time coming for the touch members of Hawke's Bay, but we now have a good, strong board with a mix of leadership, professional and touch experience to take the sport forward. I am delighted," Stone said.
Earlier in the year the regional body for touch had been placed in administration by its national body, Touch NZ, following a series of highly charged community and public meetings with Touch NZ CEO, Joe Sprangers, effectively managing the affairs of the organisation from head office assisted by Stone. After the adoption of a new constitution two months ago the election of three new board members was confirmed at Touch Hawke's Bay's annual meeting last month.
An appointments panel which included Sprangers and Stone appointing a further four board members, former Touch Hawke's Bay president Zane Johnson, Corbett and age group coach Matthew Marsh, while Spencer, Sturch, Hutchinson and Sport Hawke's Bay's Junior Armstrong were appointed by the panel.
Following the inaugural meeting Touch Hawke's Bay was released from administration by Touch NZ to allow the board to assume full control again.
"This is a great new era for touch in Hawke's Bay and we look forward to supporting the new leadership as it finds its feet," Stone said.
