Brisbane 2032 Olympic boss to depart in leadership shake-up

The Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games organising committee is set for a shake-up, with chief executive Cindy Hook announcing she will depart the role at the end of her four-year contract early next year.

A global executive search to replace Hook, who was appointed in December 2022, would begin immediately, Brisbane 2032 said in a statement.

Hook said the foundations for success had been well laid and the time was right to hand the baton to someone else.

“During the past four years, I have achieved everything we had hoped for and had many amazing experiences along the way,” she said.

“As CEO, I am proud to have built the organisation from the ground up, set the Games vision and Games plan, designed and executed a clear strategy, created the brand narrative and launched incredible emblems, and driven early market momentum and commercial wins. ”

The shake-up comes as Brisbane 2032 moves from its initial planning and capability building phase to the critical phase of operations, project and event delivery.

Brisbane 2032 president Andrew Liveris said Hook’s passion, drive and strategic intellect had set the Games up for success.

“Cindy commenced when the organising committee was a fledgling start-up and has transformed Brisbane 2032 into a thriving organisation ready to go to the next level of Games execution,” he said.

“Her focus on values, organisational excellence and strict financial and governance processes are embedded throughout a high-calibre team that she recruited and I thank her for her great contributions.”

International Olympic Committee Coordination Commission for Brisbane 2032 chair Mikaela Cojuangco-Jaworski said Hook took advantage of the long lead-time to 2032.

“Cindy has helped turn opportunity into concrete progress, leaving the organisation ready for its next chapter,” she said.

“She has made the longer preparation period count, building the organising committee from the ground up and guiding it through important early steps, from working with the government partners on a legacy strategy, defining the Games vision and opening opportunities for local businesses, to securing the first commercial partner and unveiling the Games emblem.

“It has been a pleasure to work with Cindy, and all of us at the IOC thank her for the care and commitment she has brought to Brisbane 2032.”

Hook served as chief executive of Deloitte Australia, becoming the first female chief executive of one of the Big Four firms in 2015.

The 62-year-old was moving towards retirement and a return to her native US when she was approached to put her name in the ring for the 2032 Games job, and from a worldwide field of 50, won the job.

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