Latest news with #TanyaFullerton
News.com.au
11-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
John Kanga to serve as executive chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club following the departure of CEO Tom Reilly
Chairman John Kanga will again spearhead a new-look Melbourne Racing Club administration. Kanga has assumed the honorary role of executive chairman and confirmed the club would not seek to fill its chief executive officer vacancy. The MRC last Monday terminated former chief executive Tom Reilly. Tanya Fullerton, the newly-appointed chief operating officer, is slated to start on Thursday. 'The club will not be recruiting for a CEO,' Kanga told this masthead. 'Tanya is the chief operating officer and we're also going to bolster our racing operations.' Kanga served as executive chairman from October last year to February, until Reilly started. He backed Fullerton to do 'an excellent job'. Fullerton, vice-chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners' Association, has worked closely with Kanga the past six months in particular on the 'Save Our Sandown' campaign. Kanga refused to comment on the reasons behind a 'unanimous' MRC board decision to remove Reilly last Monday. He would also not be drawn on the resignation of long-time MRC committee member Barb Saunders. As revealed by the Herald Sun on Tuesday, Saunders resigned in protest of the Reilly termination, the Fullerton appointment and MRC governance. Kanga has deferred any discussions on a potential casual vacancy replacement for Saunders to the next MRC committee meeting in two weeks. The MRC could proceed with nine on the committee through to its September election. Kanga is one of three committee members, including Alison Saville and Frank Pollio, up for election this year. Kanga said the MRC has a strong management structure in place. 'The team is working hard to deliver a fantastic Spring Carnival at Caulfield,' Kanga said. In a letter to members, following the Reilly termination, Kanga said the current administration has 'turned the club around' and restored member and industry confidence 'making common sense decisions'. Kanga sighted key milestones, including the saving of racing at Sandown, relocating the Caulfield racecourse mounting yard to its original position and reversing the proposal to build a 'wasteful' new grandstand at The Heath. The MRC last year under Kanga's watch also entered into an agreement to sell a parcel of land next to Caulfield racecourse for $195m. 'That does not mean that we cannot improve,' Kanga said. 'Tanya and I and the MRC management team will work hard, on an ongoing basis, to deliver better services and results for members.'
News.com.au
09-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
‘Best to pivot and move on': John Kanga announces removal of Tom Reilly as CEO of Melbourne Racing Club
Melbourne Racing Club chairman John Kanga has revealed the sudden removal of chief executive Tom Reilly. Reilly, the former Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Aushorse chief executive, joined the MRC in January. 'Sometimes it just doesn't work out,' Kanga said in a statement on Monday night. 'Tom was only CEO for three months and when things don't go as well as they should, it is best to pivot and move on.' • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Kanga has appointed Tanya Fullerton, vice chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners' Association, as chief operating officer. Fullerton has more than 30 years of corporate, racing and administrative experience. 'Everyone can be assured that we have put a management structure in place to ensure a smooth transition,' Kanga said. 'Tanya has an excellent reputation and deep experience and relationships across the racing industry.' Reilly's departure comes in a period of relative stability at the MRC, following board room and administrative unrest last year. Kanga last year led a successful take over of the board and quickly went about actioning key election promises, including the retention of racing at Sandown. Kanga also announced that the manager of private training centre Pinecliff would be employed as a consultant 'for the next few months to help us work out the best approach and protocols' to improve the club's race tracks. Originally published as 'Best to pivot and move on': John Kanga announces removal of Tom Reilly as CEO of Melbourne Racing Club
