Two senior management members at Sports Hub ‘stepping aside’ from roles

SINGAPORE — Two senior management members at Sports Hub Pte Ltd (SHPL) have left the consortium, with their moves said to be sparked by disagreements over the direction taken in recent discussions with event organisers and partners in staging events at the Kallang facility.

Staff and members of the sports fraternity said they were shocked and saddened on Thursday evening after learning about the departures. 

SHPL had informed staff via email that Global Spectrum Pico managing director Mark Collins and Ms Daphne Letourmel, who is director of contracts and compliance at Global Spectrum Pico, “are stepping aside” from their current roles. 

Global Spectrum Pico is one of four equity partners in the Sports Hub consortium, which had won the contract from the Government in 2007 to finance, build and operate the S$1.33 billion facility over a 25-year period in a public-private-partnership project touted as the largest in the world. 

The other partners are InfraRed Capital Partners, Dragages Singapore, and DTZ Facilities & Engineering (S) Limited.  

Confirming news of Mr Collins and Ms Letourmel’s departures, a Sports Hub spokesperson said today (Dec 18): “With immediate effect, Jason Hrick has taken over as acting managing director and will report to Manu Sawhney, CEO of Sports Hub Pte Ltd. An acting director, contracts and compliance, will be appointed shortly. 

“The team remains focused on ensuring a seamless and integrated delivery of world-class sports, entertainment and lifestyle events at Sports Hub. We will not be commenting any further on this internal matter.”

Mr Collins could not be reached for comment today. He is believed to be on gardening leave. 

But news of his departure was met with disappointment and surprise, as the American — who had joined the consortium in 2006 — was popular and respected among staff. 

Sources familiar with the situation told TODAY that Mr Collins had been having disagreements with Mr Sawhney — who took over from outgoing CEO Philippe Colin-Delavaud in October — regarding recent discussions with event organisers and partners. “Mark is well-respected by staff because he is a good leader who looked out for his colleagues at all levels,” said a source.

The sentiment was echoed by a local sports official — who declined to be named — who told TODAY: “I am very shocked and very disappointed to hear the news. “Mark is a real gentleman, and it was always a pleasure working with him. He is a man of his word who always means what he says.

“We have never had any issues with Sports Hub when Mark was facilitating and heading discussions for holding events at the Hub. He always advised us, assisted with our needs, accommodated our requests as best as he could, and always assured us that we would all work together to make the event a success.”

Last month, TODAY reported that discussions between SHPL and media rights company MP & Silva over the staging of the Merlion Cup football quadrangular at the National Stadium had broken down after the former had demanded an upfront payment of two years for the rental of the venue.

While that was eventually resolved, both parties could not agree on a force majeure clause in the contract.

Two weeks ago, TODAY also reported that Singapore Athletics had been forced to seek an alternative venue for next year’s Asia Masters Athletics Championships after being told by SHPL that converting the National Stadium from football to athletics mode, and other variable costs, would come up to S$600,000.  

Just last week, it was reported that the Ministry of Defence and the consortium was locked in negotiations on the cost of hiring the National Stadium, and other venues, for next year’s National Day Parade (NDP). That has since been resolved, with the NDP 2016 Executive Committee and the Sports Hub announcing yesterday that the parade would be held at the stadium next August.