CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF SKI CLUB GB GOES

8th April 2020

Last modified on May 15th, 2021

Ian Holt has stepped down with immediate effect. A general manager has been installed to take over the day to day running of the Club, but the future looks bleak.

Ian Holt was appointed just eight months ago and replaced the previous CEO, Darren Neylon, who himself had stayed little more than a year.

The Club made the announcement of Ian Holt’s departure in a brief message this week.

That further announcement has now been made with Angus Maciver appointed as General Manager.

He has been the treasurer of the club for the past 4-months.

He will will take over the day-to-day management of the Club, reporting through the Chairman to the SCGB Council.

He will be responsible for executing the strategies agreed by Council (the Board of the Club), and for managing the Club’s key membership activities and Fresh Tracks and Mountain Tracks holiday businesses.

“In common with other clubs and businesses associated with the travel industry, the SCGB is greatly affected by the impact of COVID-19 and, in our case, by the premature end of the 2020 ski season,” said the chairman, Trevor Campbell Davis, in a statement.

“At a time when the Club is already making significant changes to restore stability and ensure future value for our members, our staff are now dealing with new uncertainties about next season.

“I can report that they are rising to these challenges with enthusiasm and commitment to our members.”

He added: “When I accepted the position of interim Chairman of the Club in January 2020, I did so on the understanding that Council would address the significant governance and performance issues raised by members at the Club’s AGM in November 2019.

“At that meeting, the Club made a commitment to investigate and report to members how those issues arose, their impact on the Club’s reputation and financial standing, and how they would be addressed. This announcement is in the context of that agreement.

“I expect to write more fully on the matter in a letter to members later this month.”

The final comment seems to sum up why Ian Holt has gone and his legacy.

Angus Maciver will have his new role for up to eight months.

During this time, and as the future management requirements of the Club become clearer, the Council will make arrangements to identify and appoint a suitable permanent senior manager.

The Club is facing a perilous future and will have significant financial exposure brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and its impact on the travel industry.

It comes on top of the financial problems that were highlighted in the Club’s annual report to members last autumn and had already begun having an impact.

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In accordance with the Articles of the Club, Angus Maciver will stand down from Council and from his position as Treasurer.

There’s quite a discussion going on in response to the news on the PlanetSKI Facebook page:

Peter Lewis – So many changes/setbacks for the Club to overcome at the same time – sell old clubhouse and move to rented office accommodation; previous CEO leaving post after about a year (after getting rid of experienced staff); more key staff leaving; leader service replaced by “reps” (to annoyance of leaders and members); massive financial loss last winter; potential big loss this winter due to CV; now new CEO leaves…

Kristin Grantham – My belief is that the concept is outdated. The public no longer need or want to be members of a club to go skiing. The club has failed to attract younger members and thus is bound to die a slow death.

Richard Mitchell – Kristin Grantham I don’t think it is out dated at all. The concept and service still has a place and a role. Most members are people looking to ski with others of similar ability and outlook when partners/friends no longer want to ski. They fail to attract younger people because skiing in general fails to do this. It is seen as expensive and elitist by younger people similar to golf which is also suffering from an ageing demographic. Younger people have other things to spend their limited disposable income on.

Kristin Grantham – If you believe that skiing fails to attract younger people you have never skied in a resort where the young congregate at a Folie Douce!!! It’s heaving of the under 30s! I ski 5 weeks a year and have never skied with SGB as I find it stuffy and too rigid – and I’ve tried . Sorry Peter L.! ?

Peter Lewis – Kristin Grantham you mean you DON’T dress for dinner?! All depends on who is in town – in my experience SCGB draws a wide variety of people – I’ve skied with “east end” fish merchants, carpenters, judges and bankers – a wide cross section of society and characters… (if you’ve never skied with SCGB how can you judge?)

David Bateman – Kristin Grantham agree it reminds me too much of the mentality you get in a lot of golf clubs, bit old fashioned and stuffy.

Adrian Lamb – If the club comes through this it will be a miracle.

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