Gold Coast Marathon 2019: EMQ chairman Kerry Watson to retire following marathon

The man who has turned the Gold Coast Marathon into one of the city’s greatest annual events is calling it a day. Tourism industry leaders are celebrating the incredible legacy of Kerry Watson

THE man who has overseen the Gold Coast Marathon as it has become one of the city’s biggest annual events is calling it a day.

Gold Coast businessman Kerry Watson will step down as the chairman of Events Management Queensland (EMQ) following next month’s marathon after 21 years at the helm.

Mr Watson has been hailed by industry leaders for his role in the marathon’s huge success.

After 21 years Kerry Watson is retiring as the chairman of Events Management Queensland after this year's Gold Coast Marathon . Picture: Jerad Williams

The former Gold Coast Arts Centre chairman said he had many fond memories from his decades in charge of the event.

“There are so many fond memories of my tenure, but obviously the biggest reward is seeing the growth and the stature of these two amazing events which are now completely at home on the world stage,” he said.

“The Gold Coast is my home and I’m proud to have played a role in promoting everything good about our city through two events which truly show what it means to live, work and play here.

2001: Premier Peter Beattie at the Runaway Bay Sports Centre with Kerry Watson, Merri Rose and GC mayor Gary Baildon.

“The future of these events is in very safe hands with the board and I look forward to seeing what great results they achieve in future years.”

During his stint as chairman of EMQ Mr Watson oversaw both the marathon and the Pan Pacific Masters Games, which last year injected more than $53 million into the economy.

Tourism and Events Queensland boss Leanne Coddington said Mr Watson’s leadership had been instrumental in the success of both.

“Kerry has ensured the Gold Coast Marathon has grown to become one of the world’s premier road races while last year’s Pan-Pacs were the Gold Coast’s biggest yet,” she said.

Kerry Watson promoting the Gold Coast Marathon in 2004.

“Just last month it was announced this year’s Gold Coast Marathon course would be changed to allow for extra runners to compete following unprecedented interest in the event which has seen the capacity of the event’s marquee race, the 42.195km marathon grow from 6500 to 8000.

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“Kerry’s leadership has been instrumental in these achievements and his vision for both these events has been a driving force in them becoming what they are today.

Mr Watson will be replaced on August 1 by Paul Donovan who also serves as Destination Gold Coast chairman.

2006: Gold Coast Marathon Chairman Gold Coast. Picture: Richard Webb

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EMQ chief executive Cameron Hart paid tribute to Mr Watson for his two decades of dedication, which he said had led the marathon Masters Games to became world-leading events

“In the 1990s Kerry facilitated the boom in international runners coming to the event by leading the charge to secure Japan Airlines as the naming rights partner and thousands of Japanese runners to the event, and then in the early 2000s he brought Gold Coast Airport to the table as the naming rights sponsor in one of the longest major event partnerships in Australia,” he said.

Kerry Watson.

“Kerry’s focus has always been on quality of delivery and through his stewardship, we have been able to build overall entries in the Gold Coast Marathon from less than 8000 runners in the early 2000s to more than 27,000 in 2018.

“During the same period the Pan Pacific Masters Games has prospered to become the largest biennial Masters Games in the world, attracting 16,000 entrants from 40 countries to the 2018 event.”