New Melbourne Grand Prix boss Travis Auld reveals plans to make Formula One ‘bigger and better’
AFL heavyweight Travis Auld, who will be unveiled as the new boss of the Melbourne Grand Prix, has revealed for the first time his ambition to take the Formula One to even greater heights.
Victoria
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AFL heavyweight Travis Auld is officially the new boss of the Melbourne Grand Prix.
The Australian Grand Prix Corporation will on Thursday unveil Mr Auld as the man to replace long-term chief executive Andrew Westacott, following a global search for the position.
While there has been speculation for months Mr Auld was in the driver’s seat for the role, the Herald Sun can reveal he will take over as chief of the F1 showpiece and Phillip Island MotoGP on August 14.
The AFL’s chief financial officer and manager broadcasting, clubs and fixtures said he was looking forward to the role which “played into his 24 odd years in sport and entertainment.’’
“There are a bunch of ideas I bring and I’m looking forward to learning at the same time,’’ he said.
“There is no doubt F1 globally is at an all-time high but with a different lens I think we can grow on the work that has already been done and make it bigger and better.’’
Mr Auld, previously the Gold Coast Suns chief executive and Essendon chief financial officer, will usher in a new era as just the seventh man to serve as Grand Prix chief executive since Melbourne’s first Grand Prix in 1996.
He told the Herald Sun he was excited by the role at “one of the biggest and best international events in the country” and enhancing an event that had drawn record crowds to Albert Park for the past two years.
“I come from an organisation that operates nationally, pretty much 12 months of the year, but it’s largely domestic,’’ he said.
“And so it’s how do we make the event better but also longer and attract more people?’’
Confirmation of Mr Auld’s gig, believed to pay $450,000-plus a year, comes as Grand Prix chairman Paul Little prepares to stand down from the role despite this year telling the Herald Sun he wanted a new five-year deal.
The Andrews government must sign off on positions of chairman and chief executive.
Mr Little said: “Travis is an outstanding leader and person and he joins the Corporation at an exciting growth period for both our major international events in Formula 1 and MotoGP.”
Mr Auld paid tribute to Mr Westacott’s success in 12 years as Grand Prix chief.
“Andrew had a lot of experience and he and the team did an incredible job getting the two events where they are, so I’m very fortunate to walk into an organisation that has been very well run and a fantastic base to build off,’’ he said.
Mr Auld will finish at the AFL on August 4.
Melbourne’s contract for the four day F1 event is locked in til at least 2037.
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