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New Tourism CEO Appointed

“Ian is an accomplished business leader of global standing,” Mr Foord said.

“We searched globally to find someone with high level business management expertise, leadership skills and a passion for this State to take over the helm.

“Ian, who now lives in Adelaide, was the standout candidate.

“He has an outstanding track record steering organisations to success across a variety of industries and working in collaboration with the public and private sector.

“He has thrived on challenges and leading organisations to fulfill their potential in highly competitive fields.

“Tourism is currently a $4.6 billion industry in South Australia and currently outstripping the national average rate of growth. The Board of the SATC has full confidence that Ian can help drive the industry towards our goal of cracking $6.3 billion by 2014.”

Tourism Minister Jane Lomax-Smith says Mr Darbyshire will build on the great work of Andrew McEvoy and the SATC over the past three years.

“Andrew McEvoy oversaw the refinement of South Australia’s tourism message to interstate and overseas markets and the implementation of our biggest ever domestic marketing campaign which will continue with the support of an additional $12 million in State Government funding over the next four years.

“Having been at the helm of large publicly listed companies right through to smaller family businesses, Ian is well positioned to work with large and small tourism operators across the State as well other industry stakeholders.

“His high energy, strategic approach and personable style makes him an exceptional industry leader.

“He will work with South Australian Tourism operators to ensure they reap the maximum benefit from the unprecedented level of tourism marketing activity planned for the next four years.”

Throughout his career, Mr Darbyshire has held various CEO positions at large companies with staff of up to 600 workers.

Before immigrating to Adelaide with his family in 2007, he was the Group Managing Director of Connaught, a large UK publicly listed company providing services to the public sector, particularly in social housing.

He has also been the CEO of UK-based insurance company, Bennetts, where he led a management buyout and turned around the company which, prior to his appointment, had been in difficultly.

“I was bitten by the SA bug when I came to Australia on holiday in 2002 with my wife and two children,” Mr Darbyshire said.

“We visited South Australia for the first time then, along with Victoria and New South Wales. I quickly formed the view that SA has it all over the eastern states.

“We later returned to Australia again but holidayed exclusively in South Australia. We fell in love with the place, the friendly people and the unrivaled lifestyle it offers.

“Throughout my 27-year career I have travelled to most major cities in the world, but when it came to settling down, we chose Adelaide and South Australia.

“My wife and I thought it was the perfect place for our children to live and prosper. It’s got all the ingredients – great lifestyle, friendly people, strong economy, high level education and beautiful surrounds.”

Since arriving in Adelaide, Mr Darbyshire has held the position of Chief Executive Officer at a leading real estate company in South Australia.

“It is a great privilege to now be helping grow the vibrant tourism industry in South Australia. I want to spread the word globally about how great this State is,” he said.

“I look forward to working closely with all tourism operators in this State as well as Government to grow this industry, bring investment and tourism dollars into this State.

“One of my key aims will be to attract investment into this State for the tourism-related infrastructure we need to grow the industry even further.”

Media contact:
Public Relations Unit,
telephone +61 8 8463 4500
or email satc.pr.publications@saugov.sa.gov.au