Glenn Bourke has resigned from his position as CEO of the Volvo Ocean Race. His decision was taken for family reasons.
Forty-seven-year-old Bourke has held the position since November 2002 and helped establish the Volvo Ocean Race as the world’s leading offshore ocean race. Bourke will relocate from England to take up a position in his native Australia in the New Year.
"Glenn has done a fantastic job for the Volvo Ocean Race and for Volvo since 2002 and it’s very sad to see him leave,” said Gerry Keaney, Chairman of the Board of Volvo Event Management. “We understand his wish to be closer to his family and children in Australia.”
Bourke said his role as CEO for the last five years had been extremely fulfilling. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenges and the responsibility of overseeing the evolution of the race. I feel privileged to have been part of the decisions to introduce the Volvo Open 70 rule and to broaden the reach of the race by embracing new territories such as India, China and Southeast Asia. I am confident that with the talent, experience and dedication of the people we have in place at Volvo Event Management UK, the 2008-09 iteration of the race will be a resounding success and underpin the Volvo’s status as the world’s premier round the world race.”
Bourke said he weighed up several factors in coming to what he said was a very difficult decision.
“It’s no secret to those people who know me well that being so far away from my family for so many years has been stressful at times. My children are now at an age where I feel I need to be spending more time with them. Ultimately they come first on my list of priorities.”