CEO resignation: 'It has been a privilege to lead this organisation'
While not completely satisfied Steve Mitchell was confident Rugby Southland was in a much better space now than when he first arrived in 2020.
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It’s time to head home.
Steve Mitchell has announced his resignation as Rugby Southland’s CEO and in June will take up the job of Tasman Rugby Union CEO.
Mitchell has been in the Rugby Southland job for four years after shifting south from Nelson.
When he took on the job, Mitchell made it clear to the board that the intention was at some point for him and his wife Pam to return home to Nelson.
The plan was to take on the Southland job for a minimum of three to five years and a maximum of five to seven years before returning to family in Nelson.
That time has come after he was successful in landing the CEO’s job at the Tasman Rugby Union.
“I’m not getting any younger. I’ve got my Mum and Dad up there, my two brothers there, and my eldest son. Pam has got all her siblings and cousins, we’ve got our family home up there,” Mitchell said.
While not completely satisfied, Mitchell was confident Rugby Southland was in a much better space now than when he first arrived in 2020 - which happened to be amongst a pandemic.
One of his quests has been to help develop the right people in the right positions at Rugby Southland.
He felt that had happened. He pointed to what Scott Eade was doing in the pathways space and also Jack King in the commercial and marketing role, among others at Rugby Southland.
King is likely to be a contender to step into the soon-to-be vacant CEO role.
Another key assignment for Mitchell was to bring some financial capability to Rugby Southland after many years of financial struggles.
Rugby Southland was basically operating year to year with little financial contingency in place if something went wrong.
It needed to build $1.4m in reserves mark to be to ensure they were not vulnerable to any unexpected costs that might occur.
$1.46m equates to about 40% of Rugby Southland’s annual operational costs. The organisation is now over that reserves mark.
On Monday night, at Rugby Southland’s latest AGM - where Mitchell announced his resignation - it was confirmed the organisation had posted another $150,000 surplus for 2023.
That was on the back of the $70,000 surplus the year before.
Mitchell said those surpluses came from prudent financial spending, as well as an increase in commercial revenue.
He said they had targeted a 33% increase in commercial revenue over three years and had managed to achieve that in two.
While there has been cost-cutting, Mitchell was proud that they have still been able to invest in “our people” and infrastructure.
A small example of that was sending Stags coaches James Wilson and Matt Saunders - who is also Rugby Southland’s director of rugby - to Japan for a week to work with Steve Hansen at Toyota Verblitz.
“We are investing in growing our people. Everybody is getting an opportunity to improve and grow,” Mitchell said.
Mitchell said there were three key things that impressed him when he first arrived in Southland in 2020. 1. The raw playing talent 2. Oreti Park 3. The passion for the Stags brand.
Four years on he was still impressed by those.
While the financial improvements have been encouraging, along with a growth in playing numbers for the last three years, the shop window - the Stags - continue to struggle to make an impact in the NPC competition.
Although Mitchell was certain Rugby Southland’s current approach around the Stags and their future was right.
“It all depends on what you invest into your community game. If you are putting nothing into your community game, you can’t expect elite athletes to come out of it.
“If you’ve got the likes of [Marty McKenzie and Josh Bekhuis] working with kids at 14 then they are going to by 18 know what it takes to be an elite athlete.
“But if you are putting all the focus on the Stags and you are not investing in the kids coming through then you are fooling yourself. You will just end up doing what a lot of them do - buy a team.
“That’s not sustainable. I have an overarching concept - ‘local representation for local people as a priority’.
“It doesn’t mean you can’t go and buy a name if you need one. But at the same time you buy a name while you build your two youngsters until they are ready.
“To me, that is what a provincial union should be. The issue is there are others out there that will buy their whole team and to compete against that is bloody tough.”
Mitchell will finish at Rugby Southland at the start of June and will have a week before starting his new role at Tasman.
Meanwhile, it was announced at Monday’s AGM that Cassie Watt has joined the Rugby Southland board.
The Myross Bush School teacher has had a significant impact on the refereeing front in Southland, both as a referee herself and as an administrator.
Watt replaces Ian Harrington on the board who has stepped down.
The current board: Chairman: Murray Brown Directors: Aloma Williams, Lynn Manson, Cassie Watt, Rex Carter, Mike McKenzie, Ashleigh Light, and Glenn O'Connor. Life Member Leicester Rutledge has also been reappointed as President.
Read below Steve Mitchell’s statement to those at Monday night’s AGM meeting where he announced his resignation:
It is with mixed emotions that I forward my resignation from the role of CEO of Rugby Southland.
After 4 years in the role an opportunity has come for Pam and I to move home and undertake a similar position in our home town.
We really enjoyed our time in Southland, and I personally thank all who have made us welcome and who have supported me in the role over the last 4 years.
When I applied for the role, I stated that 3-5 years minimum, and that I intended to set up the systems, fill them with the right people and then head home.
I can proudly say that although not completely satisfied, we have achieved, and that Rugby Southland is in a far better position than when I arrived.
The overall growth in playing numbers for the last three years, the improved financial status and clarity on reporting, the changes in representative results and player behavior are all improvements that show a progressive and positive provincial union.
Southland is a proud and passionate union, and it has been a privilege to lead and guide this organisation and facilitate putting these changes into place.
Another major achievement is the composition and focus of the Board and Chairman. I firmly believe that with the staff and board changes Rugby Southland is in a great position to continue to improve the way it operates and develops players from this region.
Other achievements I will mention that have made a massive difference are the relationship with the Highlanders, the independent judiciary, the involvement of our life members, the recognition of our 100 game players, our community interactions, our growth in sponsorship and funding and gaining more community support for our club and representative teams.
I cannot claim all of this on my own and I recognise and thank those who took the challenge with me, the staff, the Board, sponsors and those in the community who saw and supported the positive changes.
With the leadership of our current chairman, the focus of the Board and growing competency within the staff, I believe that Rugby Southland is in a good position to navigate the complex word of provincial union rugby.
I wish you all the best, thank you for a challenging but rewarding journey and will always have respect for Rugby in Southland and the Stags.
Yours sincerely Steve Mitchell