America’s Cup, Grant Simmer da Alinghi a Team Origin
America's CupTeam OriginVela 31 Maggio 2010 Zerogradinord 0
America’s Cup – La Maddalena – Sir Keith Mills, fondatore e presidente di Team Origin, ha annunciato di aver ingaggiato Grant Simmer. L’ex coordinatore dei progettisti di Alinghi è stato nominato amministratore delegato del team britannico. Una nomina che, da quanto si apprende, ha effetto immediato e che sottolinea l’interesse di Team Origin verso la prossima campagna di Coppa America.
Grant Simmer, australiano di nascita, si è detto molto contento della nomina: “Sono davvero contento di questa opportunità con Team Origin e non vedo l’ora di iniziare a lavorare con Sir Keith Mills, Ben Ainslie e tutto il resto dell’equipaggio per sviluppare un progetto atto a superare gli altri sfidanti e a primeggiare nel mondo del match race in attesa di affrontare la trentaquattresima edizione dell’America’s Cup. Team Origin vanta grandi individualità in tutti i reparti. Mike Sanderson, che ora ha lasciato il team, ha giocato un ruolo importante nel mantenerlo in vita attraverso periodi difficili e lo ha lasciato in ottimo forma”.
Simmer ha preso parte a otto campagne di Coppa America. Il suo esordio è avvenuto nel 1983 quando, ventisettenne, è stato navigatore a bordo di Australia II, scafo che per primo ha sottratto la Coppa al defender statunitense. Dopo aver dato il suo apporto fondamentale in altre campagne, è tornato al successo nel 2003 e nel 2007 con Alinghi.
AMERICA’S CUP, GRANT SIMMER IS THE NEW NEW CEO
[Team Origin Press Release] Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal of Team Origin, the British America’s Cup sailing team, announced today that Australian-born Grant Simmer has been appointed as CEO. Simmer, most recently Managing Director and Design. Co-ordinator of Alinghi, winners of the America’s Cup in 2003 and 2007, takes on the new position with immediate effect.
Today’s announcement follows the conclusion of the last America’s Cup match in February, and the start of the next Cup cycle. Last week Team Origin announced that it would be strengthening its management team as it ramps up its operations as it heads towards the 34th America’s Cup.
Grant Simmer, CEO,commented on his new role, “I am delighted to join Team Origin and am looking forward to working with Sir Keith, Ben and all the team to develop and execute a plan to overcome the other Challengers and lead us into the next America’s Cup Match.”
He added further thoughts on his new team, “Fortunately Team Origin appears to have great strengths and leadership in each department. Mike Sanderson, who has now left the team, played a key role in managing the team through some difficult times and the team is in pretty good shape.
I anticipate each area simply getting on with their jobs and that I will play a key role in overseeing and coordinating their activities. Team Origin has had to survive during several years of uncertainty while the Deed of Gift Match was resolved. Now, with the new Defender in place, we are all anxiously awaiting announcements of their plans for the 34th Cup. These are exciting times for sure, and these plans will include the format of racing, type of boats to be raced, the dates of competition and many other significant details. We should know all this information by the end of September and can then develop and refine our strategy leading to the next Cup.”
Simmer’s new role as CEO sees him take responsibility for the sporting and technical activities of the team as well as overseeing the commercial operations. Simmer joins the team today in La Maddalena, Sardinia, where Team Origin is competing in the Louis Vuitton Trophy regatta against nine other world class America’s Cup teams including the Defender BMW Oracle Racing, Team Origin’s opponent for the 1851 Cup in Cowes in early August this year. Racing continues in Italy until 6th June 2010.
Sir Keith Mills, Team Principal, added his thoughts on today’s news, “Today’s announcement is part of the team’s long term strategy to enhance the leadership and management. We are moving into the next phase of operations and Grant brings with him invaluable experience from both a Challenger and Defenders perspective. Our mission is to win the America’s Cup and today’s announcement forms a fundamental part of that strategy.”
This will be Simmer’s eighth America’s Cup. He first competed in 1983 at the age of 27 as Navigator onboard Australia II. There he played a part in sporting history when Australia II became the first challenger to ever win the America’s Cup ending 132 years of US supremacy and the longest winning streak in sports history. Since that momentous win, Simmer has had diverse roles and responsibilities in another seven America’s Cup campaigns, culminating with the Swiss Alinghi team, winning the Cup in 2003 and 2007 in the role of Design Coordinator and most recently as the team’s Managing Director.
Ben Ainslie, Skipper and Helmsman, added his views, “This is great news for Team Origin and it comes at a time when we are finally seeing some resolution to the past few years of event delays. Soon we hope to have a detailed Protocol and programme for the 34th America’s Cup. Grant’s experience and talent will bring strong leadership and structure to the team at this critical time and his sailing and design skills will enhance our strengths as we move forward.”
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