Basketball Otago (BBO) has a new boss.
Oamaru Licensing Trust general manager Justin Ludlow has been appointed BBO general manager and will assume the role in February next year.
The 40-year-old has lived in Oamaru for the past 10 years but grew up in Mosgiel before moving to Alexandra and spending ‘‘20-plus years'' in Central.
Ludlow and his wife Joelene have four daughters - Lydia (13), Caitlin (8), Emma (7) and Stella (5) - and will move to Dunedin early next year.
A former guard, he played representative basketball for Central Otago and has refereed at club and age group level.
He is a director at the North Otago Rugby Union and passionate about sports administration.
He had been looking for an opportunity to get more involved in sport and jumped at the opportunity, despite BBO's recent financial struggles.
‘‘I'm very much aware of what has happened in the past but I'm really looking forward to the challenge ahead,'' he told the Otago Daily Times.
BBO ceased trading in October 2014 having accumulated a debt of nearly $180,000 under the previous general manager, Markham Brown.
The association escaped liquidation only thanks to the determined effort of a handful of people and, in May, reached an agreement with its creditors to pay 30c in the dollar.
Ludlow's task is to restore the community's faith in the organisation and keep on top of the finances.
Basketball Otago chairman Karl Andrews, whose efforts were instrumental in helping BBO avoid liquidation, said in a press release he was confident Ludlow was the right person for the job.
‘‘Justin brings a wealth of experience in many highly competitive industries and has extensive history in the corporate, funding and personnel management fields,'' Andrews said.
‘‘When you combine this with a community focused approach, a great demeanor and a passion and drive for sports administration, we feel Justin will quickly make a difference for the stakeholders of basketball in the Otago region.''
BBO is satisfied Ludlow's arrival will be the start of a ‘‘long and sustained period of stability for the sport in the region''.
