Venture Southland chief resigns after seven years
Venture Southland chief executive Paul Casson has announced his resignation and will finish at the end of May.
Casson, who has been in the job for seven years, said the timing was right to move on before the appointment of a new board of directors for the Southland Regional Development Agency.
The agency had been formed as a council-controlled organisation and is combining the action plan, work and goals of the agency and the regional and economic development activities of Venture Southland into one agency.
The names of the directors for the development agency would be announced in coming weeks and the official start date for the agency was now likely to be in June, Casson said.
In the next three months, Casson would work with the agency’s board to ensure a smooth transition process for the new entity and staff.
Casson said he was comfortable with his decision to leave as his daughter had just moved to Dunedin to study and the family would also relocate to Dunedin.
It had been a privilege to work with the talented and diverse team at Venture – the economic development agency for Southland – during the past seven years, he said.
‘‘I have really enjoyed my role with many stakeholders both regionally, nationally and internationally for the betterment of Southland.’’
He believed Southland was in good stead, with the Tiwai aluminium smelter recently opening another potline, tourism numbers looking good, the dairy sector going well and international education in Southland continuing to grow. Venture’s role had been to engage and collaborate with industries and stakeholders and promote Southland and make it a great place to live and work in, he said. Casson said he had not made any decisions on his future employment prospects. Gore District mayor Tracy Hicks said Casson had made a big contribution to Southland in his role with Venture.
‘‘He has led change within the organisation and is very well respected,’’ Hicks said.
The last two years had been challenging for Venture Southland as it transitioned to a new entity.
‘‘To lead Venture through that time is a credit to him.
‘‘Paul is a guy with vision and drive and he is passionate about Southland.’’