Departing Academy of Sport South Island chief executive Kereyn Smith says the organisation will go from strength to strength.
Smith, who was announced yesterday as the new Secretary-General of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, said leaving the academy was a very tough decision.
"But for me in terms of leadership of sport in New Zealand this is a wonderful opportunity to be fully involved in national and international sport," Smith said.
"It was tough to leave the academy and it's been a very special 10 years. But where it is now, it is [in] a really good place to go forward.
"It has a great team and a really exciting plan for the future."
Smith was the first and only chief executive at the academy and was seen as the face and voice of the organisation.
She dismissed any talk her leaving would lead to a downgrading of the academy.
"We have set-up bases right throughout the country and Dunedin and Christchurch are part of that. Over the past few years they have co-existed well together and complement each other. They are a very strong base for sport in the South Island. It is not about one or the other. They both have different sort of focus areas."
The big issue for the academy was the need to get a new base away from Logan Park, with the Forsyth Barr Stadium the obvious headquarters for the academy in the future.
"The stadium discussion is ongoing with the council and other stakeholders. Obviously where we are at the moment has a limited lifespan and we need to progress those discussions. The stadium is one of our preferred options and we will continue to work with the council and Sparc over the issue."
Academy of Sport South Island chairman Peter Cox said Smith had been invaluable in leading the formation of strong links with local communities and councils, particularly in Christchurch, Dunedin and Invercargill, culminating in effective and well-supported hubs for high performance sport in the main centres.
"Kereyn has been an outstanding leader of a great team. She will leave the academy in good heart and in a strong position when she moves on, having laid excellent foundations for the academy to move into the next decade," he said.
"We have a number of exciting projects on the radar that will be a real priority for the new CEO and the board. We're very confident and optimistic about the future."
Along with her position at the academy, Smith was the Dunedin City Council's representative on the Highlanders board and was also a trustee of the Carisbrook Stadium Trust and the Skeggs Foundation.
She said it was unclear whether her new role would allow her to continue in the other roles, and she would be talking to those groups over the next few weeks.
She starts her new position, based in Wellington, in JanuarySmith said there were so many highlights over her 10 years with the academy it was impossible to point to one.
To work with such a great team and encourage so many dedicated athletes to success was a real privilege.
Smith was one of two employees at the academy at Logan Park when it started 10 years ago, and the academy now had about 30 staff scattered around the South Island.
"I feel really indebted to the Otago community and what it has done for me and the academy. There has been so much help over the years and so many people have given assistance."
