ASB MAGAZINE:
Surfing Australia is proud to announce the appointment of Chris Mater as their new CEO. Chris replaces outgoing CEO Andrew Stark who has been in the role since 2009. Chris has worked for Red Bull for the past 19 years and was with them on day one of their Australian launch. Based in the USA the last 14 years, he has held various roles including leading all sports marketing for six years and most recently as General Manager for the Red Bull North America region, responsible for over 600 Red Bull and partner employees with $400 million in annual revenue.
In this new role, he will be drawing on his extensive leadership, talent management, marketing, sales and media background with an excellent track record in both strategy and execution. Chris also has a deep passion for sport. He skied professionally as part of the Australian Ski Team in the 90’s and is a passionate life-long surfer, growing up on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
Layne Beachley AO, seven-time World Champion and Surfing Australia Chair, said: “I’m thrilled to have someone of Chris’s calibre join Surfing Australia. We have big plans for the sport over the next three years encompassing sports development through our current programs as well as making our Olympic debut in Tokyo 2020. It is an exciting time for surfing and Chris’s wealth of knowledge, experience and enthusiasm will lead us into our next phase of success. I’m really looking forward to working with him.”
“Our former CEO Andrew Stark has done an outstanding job over the last 10 years and we are forever grateful for his dedication and unwavering service to the organisation. We wish him continued success and happiness with his new and exciting role with the WSL and Kelly Slater Wave Co. Starky will be incredibly missed but always will be a spiritual member of the Surfing Australia team.”
Chris Mater, Surfing Australia’s new CEO, said: “It’s an incredible privilege and I am very humbled to be given the opportunity to work with the Surfing Australia team, board and partners. Surfing is such an important part of the culture, identity and way of life for many Australians. I am very much looking forward to leading Surfing Australia, sharing the stoke of surfing and supporting its mission.”
Chris will be starting with Surfing Australia on the 15th October and will be based at the recently expanded High Performance Centre at Casuarina, on the North NSW Coast.
Departing CEO Andrew Stark finishes Friday 31st August. In the interim period between 3rd September and October 12th Current General Manager of Partnerships, Digital and Events Jake White will be in the Acting CEO Role.
Surfing Australia is a National Sporting Organisation that was formed in 1963 to establish, guide and promote the development of surfing in Australia.
