Terry Wright, who had arguably the heaviest workload at VANOC, officially joined KPMG in mid-August after months of speculation.
Wright was the executive vice-president who oversaw transportation, accommodation and security and is now the Vancouver-based sport and global events senior adviser within KPMG’s global infrastructure practice.
He stayed on in a part-time role with VANOC, post-Games, and was part of the group that attended July’s International Olympic Committee session in Durban, South Africa.
Wright’s biggest headache might have been the contentious contract for buses with Gameday Management of Florida. That finally went to a mediator last November. Bus systems that were budgeted at $52.37 million in 2007 ended up costing VANOC $92.6 million, according to the post-Games financial report, which was released December 17.
Gameday boss Tony Vitrano became the transport lead for the London 2012 Olympic committee.
Wright and CEO John Furlong were notable omissions from the IOC’s August-struck co-ordination commission for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics.
Usually, a top-ranking executive from the most recently completed Games joins the panel. The checkup squad for Vancouver 2010 included Salt Lake 2002 chief operating officer Fraser Bullock. Sochi 2014’s includes Turin 2006 chairman Cesare Vaciago.
Last Wednesday’s resignation of Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) CEO Jean Dupre for “personal reasons” came as a shocker. The former head of Speedskating Canada was on the job for just 18 months. The COC is heading into an important four-year cycle that includes this fall’s Pan American Games in Guadalajara, next summer’s London Olympics and the 2015 Pan Ams in Toronto. Chris Overholt succeeded Dupre, handing his chief marketing officer job to Derek Kent.
Keeping Score
Garnet Nelson is taking a shot with Score Marketing.
The managing partner for Fusion Sponsorship and Events and Altius Sport Marketing since 2004 will maintain a senior consultancy role with Cossette in Vancouver.
“It’s been on the burner for a while,” Nelson said, “and I’m a pretty entrepreneurial guy and strategic marketer so I decided to branch out.”
Nelson was the marketing manager for Vancouver’s Olympic bid in 2003 and joined the Cossette companies to assist in sponsor activation before and during the 2010 Winter Olympics. With Score, he’ll be working with brands and properties and on sponsorship valuation. Companies are under more pressure to spend less, spend wisely and gauge the results, he said.
Nelson remains the sponsorship agent for BC Place Stadium, where he was involved in the deal that gave Budweiser the pouring rights and shared sponsorship of the BC Lions and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Stadium strife
Whether BC Place Stadium reopens as scheduled on September 30 could be determined September 10.
BC Government and Service Employees’ Union workers are expected to either agree to a new contract or vote on striking.
Mediated talks continue Wednesday and Thursday. If the government won’t give teachers a raise, then stadium workers can’t expect any better. They’ll be seeking compensation somewhere else in a new contract, especially with the knowledge that BC Pavilion Corp. (PavCo) CEO Warren Buckley was paid $563,707 (including $100,000 bonus) in 2010-11 and stadium general manager Howard Crosley $254,372 (including $47,730 bonus).
Big bike event
RBC Gran Fondo Whistler just got bigger.
The second annual Vancouver-to-Whistler bike race, organized by Kevin Thomson and Neil McKinnon’s TOIT Events, now includes the September 8-9 VeloSpoke Bike Expo at the Vancouver Convention Centre. It’s produced in part by PavCo. Alex Stieda, the first North American to win a Tour de France stage and wear the famed yellow jersey, will be among the speakers.
The race is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. in downtown Vancouver on September 10 and includes a 54-40 concert at Whistler Olympic Plaza. GranFondo launched a Kelowna event last July and is expanding to Niagara Falls, Ontario, next May. •
