The chief executive of the Hydro Arena has announced he is to quit his job.
John Sharkey, CEO of the SECC, owner of Glasgow's newest concert venue, told staff we would be stepping down at a meeting this morning.
Mr Sharkey is understood to have told staff that he will remain in post until Easter for a replacement to be appointed. Sir Ian Grant also confirmed he will leave early in the New Year.
It had been an open secret that both men were to leave their posts in the coming months.
Although the pair can also credit themselves with the often fraught delivery of the Hydro, the departure is already being described as a pre-emptive move by Mr Sharkey ahead of imminent board room battles with the SECC's majority shareholder, Glasgow City Council.
Mr Sharkey and the council have been at loggerheads over several key issues in recent years, including the Hydro's funding and salaries.
Pay negotiations are planned for the New Year. While the council is also planning to increase its presence on the board in January.
Keith Wyness, another director, announced he was quitting earlier this month.
A source said: "Any case against Sharkey now over pay by the council doesn't matter any more. He's going. Its saved him a row. He can say he delivered the Hydro and any flak in the New Year isn't his to worry about. It's clearly a pre-emptive strike by Sharkey."
It had been thought Mr Sharkey was planning to hold on until after the Commonwealth Games.
Sir Grant said: "John has been an excellent business leader for SEC and, as the man who led the team that has brought us the SSE Hydro, has displayed remarkable vision, determination and sheer hard work. In addition, John has successfully led the transformation of the business model of the SEC to provide a sharper focus on conferences, exhibitions and ticketing and substantially increased the contributing performance of all three businesses during a challenging construction period.
"His are big shoes to fill and he will leave behind a fantastic legacy to be enjoyed not just by Glaswegians but by music lovers, visitors and conference delegates from across Scotland and beyond. On behalf of the SEC Board, I offer our thanks and wish John every success in the future."
Mr Sharkey joined SEC as Finance Director in 2002 and was appointed Chief Executive in 2008. Following the opening of the SSE Hydro arena to widespread approval and exceeding the Business Plan projections set out for the project, John believes that this is the natural time to take on his next career challenge and allow a new successor to consolidate the potential of new expanded SECC campus and enlarged business. He will announce his future plans at a later date.
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