Written by Paul Vettise
A recharged Mark Webster is looking forward to continuing his role as Inglis Managing Director after earlier announcing he would be stepping aside.
He had made the call in April to leave on a high note, having successfully seen through the move of the company’s base from Newmarket in Randwick to the world class Riverside Stables complex and hotel at Warwick Farm.
“It’s fair to say that when I made that decision to step down I was definitely very tired and hadn’t had a proper holiday for a couple of years,” Webster said.
“A lot of clients and people wouldn’t know the challenges involved to get it open on time.” – Mark Webster.
“There was an awful lot involved to get the project completed and the hotel open. A lot of clients and people wouldn’t know the challenges involved to get it open on time.
Mark Webster and Arthur Inglis on site during the construction of the new Riverside complex
“I was quite exhausted at the end of that and thought I had done my job. I had seen it through and I thought I had done my lot.”
The search for Webster’s successor then began, but it became apparent a suitable candidate wasn’t forthcoming.
“We engaged a leading recruitment company, searching both here and abroad.” - Inglis Chairman John Coates.
“We engaged a leading recruitment company, searching both here and abroad,” Inglis Chairman John Coates said.
“However, after six months we were unable to identify anyone with the right balance of corporate, leadership and racing industry skills and experience required for this important role.
“Accordingly, we asked Mark to put on hold his personal plans and we are most grateful that he has committed for another two to three years.
“Mark will continue to develop and mentor potential successors from within his senior management team, while we remain open to a suitable external candidate if one is identified.’’
Mark Webster
Exciting future
Webster said he was happy to accept the Board’s offer and was looking forward to continuing his association with Inglis.
“When the Chairman asked me to stay on I was certainly in a better frame of mind than I was in April,” Webster said.
“That was a very challenging period and at the end of it I had delivered on what I was asked to do and thought it was maybe somebody else’s turn.
“As it played out, they couldn’t find a person with the right mix of skills in terms of corporate and racing.” – Mark Webster.
“As it played out, they couldn’t find a person with the right mix of skills in terms of corporate and racing.
“There were a lot of really good people interviewed, they just didn’t have the right skill set.”
Webster said it was a good time to be at the helm with racing in the best of hearts and a string of successful sales behind them.
“Everything’s going so well, there’s plenty of prizemoney and as long as the economy holds together it’s going to be incredibly interesting.” - Mark Webster.
“Everything’s going so well, there’s plenty of prizemoney and as long as the economy holds together it’s going to be incredibly interesting,” Webster said.
“There is so much to look forward to, the re-opening of a fantastic renovated sales facility in Melbourne, the launch of the new Inglis Millennium Race Day and the largest Classic Sale ever to be conducted.
The new Inglis Millennium Race Day will be held at Warwick Farm racecourse in conjunction with the Classic Sale
“Inglis was the only auction house to sell a Group 1 winning two-year-old in 2018 and offered 67 per cent of all Australian Group 1 winners in the same year, this success for our customers is keeping me motivated.
“I do feel rejuvenated to bat up again for another couple of years or so, even though I haven’t had that holiday - but I will in January.”
