No photo-finish for new Executive Director |
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 There was no photo-finish required when Angus Houston was interviewed for the post of Executive Director at the Ricoh Arena.
The 40-year-old has overseen the development of Ireland’s first new racecourse for 50 years as general manager at Limerick Racecourse. Over the last eight-and-a-half years, Angus has played an instrumental role in building the multi-purpose venue into one of the top five racecourses in Ireland. He is now turning his attentions to another multi-use site, the £113 million Ricoh Arena, where he will be responsible for the catering, conferences and exhibitions which are operated and managed by the Compass Group. Angus said: “I felt I had taken Limerick Racecourse as far as I could and the diversity of the Ricoh appealed to me. “From a career point of view, I was incredibly lucky to be given an opportunity at Limerick Racecourse and the Ricoh falls into a very similar bracket as an unusual and diverse business with enormous potential. It is still quite a new business and it is growing all the time and I saw it as an opportunity to be involved in something quite exciting. “We have an on-site hotel which is inside the venue rather than being 200 yards away and there is great flexibility within the stadium bowl since other turf sports like rugby can be played in there as well as football. “Its geographical location is second to none because we’re in the middle of the country which means we are in easy reach of a vast number of cities and towns and the key strength of the Ricoh is the people that work here. “There is an attitude here among the staff that they want to see the Ricoh get to the top and I have no doubt that will be achieved. “It is a difficult economic market for everybody at the moment but there is a desire to succeed here. “I will be concentrating on the strategic growth of the business as well as the operational side. “Compass is delighted and privileged to be part of the running of the Ricoh Arena and my job is to ensure that we make the Ricoh one of the top venues in the UK.” Angus has moved to Leamington with his wife, Kelle, and their ten-month-old son, Ruariadh, and his sporting background means he is perfectly suited to his new role. “I went to school at Ampleforth College in York and when I was playing scrum-half for the first team, Lawrence Dallaglio was in the under-13s,” he said. “I was also fortunate enough to represent Yorkshire schoolboys and Scotland Under-18s at rugby many moons ago. I enjoy all sports and even managed to play polo in Ireland for four years, although not particularly well!” PICTURE CAPTION: Angus Houston who has been appointed Executive Director at the Ricoh Arena |
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