New role will not affect Warbirds

Roger Clark
Roger Clark
Warbirds Over Wanaka chief executive Roger Clark says his new appointment to project manage the Highlanders rugby team will not affect his leadership role with the popular airshow.

The New Zealand Rugby Union stepped in on Thursday to appoint Mr Clark to the Highlanders as a project manager for a three-month term.

Mr Clark told the Otago Daily Times yesterday his role with the Highlanders was only for the "immediate" three months and that he would be responsible for reviewing the struggling franchise's 2010 Super 14 season.

"Nothing has changed at this stage. Obviously, things are pretty quiet with Warbirds at the moment. Certainly compared with how everything was a couple of months ago," he said.

Mr Clark headed the biennial Warbirds airshow for the first time at Easter. He said he would continue in the role as Warbirds organisers plan for their next event in April 2012.

Mr Clark is chief executive of Rugby Southland; a role he performs alongside his Warbirds chief executiveship, but which he will relinquish during his term at the Highlanders.

Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust chairman Murray Cleverley said Mr Clark's appointment to the Highlanders demonstrated the regard in which his management skills were held.

Mr Clark would spend "no less time" with Warbirds and his Highlanders review project would help raise his profile among organisations attached to the airshow, he said.

"We're very proud of him and it goes to show Warbirds has one of the top management men in the South at the helm," Mr Cleverley said.

 

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