Who is Cindy Hook, new CEO of Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games?

After a six month global search for a chief executive to run the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games – global businesswoman Cindy Hook has been announced.

A global businesswoman has been appointed the chief executive of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Former Deloitte Australia boss Cindy Hook has landed the prized appointment after a six-month search, and will officially start her new gig in February.

Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris made the announcement on Tuesday, citing Ms Hook’s extensive corporate experience both in Australia and around the world.

She has held positions as chief executive of Deloitte Australia and Deloitte Asia Pacific, as well as directorships on the Economic Development Board of Singapore and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

Born in the US, she called Australia home for ten years from 2009, raising her two children Down Under with her husband in Sydney.

Her appointment as Deloitte Australia boss in 2015 made her the first woman to lead an Australian big four professional services firm.

Former Deloitte chief executive Cindy Hook has been announced as the new CEO of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Picture: The Australian.

In the lead-up to the highly-anticipated announcement a number of high-profile names had been tossed around as potential candidates, including outgoing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan and former Virgin chief executive Paul Scurrah.

Ms Hook said she could not pass up the opportunity, and she saw the 2032 Games as having the potential to deliver a long-lasting legacy for Brisbane.

“The idea of setting up the organisation, 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,” Ms Hook said.

“More than anything, I see this role as an opportunity to give back to the country that has welcomed me, and my family, with open arms and become our adopted homeland.

“We have experienced first-hand that Australia is a nation that understands the benefits of being a true multicultural society, drawing on the strengths of people’s diverse backgrounds and cultures to create a community like no other across the world.”

Brisbane 2032 Olympic Paralympic Games president Andrew Liveris. Picture: David Clark

Mr Liveris said an extensive global search had been conducted to ensure a strong mix of potential candidates.

“I’m so pleased 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,” he said.

“We needed an individual that knows what it takes to run a multi-billion dollar business on time and on budget, as well as how to engage the community, industry and the corporate sector in what is effectively the biggest event-based project this nation will see in a generation.

“Furthermore, with significant sponsorship revenue targets ahead of the Organising Committee, we wanted someone who not only knows how to open corporate doors, but for whom the doors are already wide open, across Australia and internationally.”