Frontrunner firms as Gold Coast Tourism receives almost 200 applications for top job

Gold Coast Tourism has been flooded with almost 200 applications from around the world as it searches for a CEO replacement. See the top contenders.

BEN Pole is in pole position to beat two strong female candidates to Gold Coast Tourism’s top job.

The tourism body launched an international search for a successor to long-time CEO Martin Winter after he notified the board he planned to resign following the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

GCT was flooded with almost 200 applications for the coveted role from industry professionals around the world, including a strong field of leading local tourism figures.

The applicants were whittled down to 30 before an impressive shortlist of 10 candidates was compiled for a final round of interviews.

The shortlist included three well-known locals widely considered the frontrunners to succeed Mr Winter — Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre boss Adrienne Readings and Ardent Leisure chief executive of theme parks Craig Davidson, both of who currently serve on the GCT board, and former GCT staffer Ben Pole.

GCT director of corporate affairs and strategy Dean Gould is also believed to have made the top 10.

Ben Pole has firmed as the frontrunner to replace Martin Winter at Gold Coast Tourism.

The Gold Coast Bulletin understands another two strong local candidates are now in the mix after impressive interviews — Optus executive Sam Kennedy and GCT senior marketer Jan Hutton.

An advocate of sustainable tourism practices and self-described wildlife warrior, Ms Hutton was chief marketing officer of South African Tourism before she moved to the Coast and joined GCT in 2016.

Ms Kennedy, the director for strategy and innovation at Optus, oversaw the rollout of the company’s new high-speed infrastructure and managed services network to support more than 11,000 users across the Gold Coast, Cairns, Townsville and Brisbane in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Games.

A baton bearer on the Warwick leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay, Ms Kennedy travelled to Singapore with State Government and Gold Coast City Council representatives on a trade investment mission as part of the relay event.

Gold Coast Tourism chief marketing officer Jan Hutton. Picture: Regi Varghese

Despite the women’s strong pitches for local tourism’s top job, Mr Pole — a former GCT director of strategy, marketing and communications — remains frontrunner to fill Mr Winter’s shoes.

Mr Pole has served as CEO of economic development and marketing at Ipswich City Council since he left GCT in December 2014.

Established in 1975, GCT promotes the city as a leisure and business event destination and manages two accredited local Visitor Information Centres.

The organisation represents more than 500 local accommodation venues, theme parks and attractions, tour operators, restaurants and cafes, entertainment venues, transport providers and professional support services.

Partly funded by a tourism levy on almost 27,000 commercial businesses, GCT promotes the Coast nationally and internationally as a leisure and business events destination.

GCT chairman Paul Donovan is expected to announce Mr Winter’s replacement in June.

THE GOLD COAST TOURISM BOARD

CEO: Martin Winter (departing)

Chairman: Paul Donovan

Vice chairwoman: Adrienne Readings

Honorary secretary: John Punch OAM

Directors: Peta Fielding, Craig Davidson, John Morris, Lindsay Wallace, Nick Scott, Adam-Twemlow and Cr Bob La Castra