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New CEO takes over the reins at NZ Thoroughbred Racing

Matt Ballesty replaces outgoing CEO Bruce Sharrock.

NZTR chair Russell Warwick (left) and new CEO Matt Ballesty.

Wed, 05 Feb 2025

New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has appointed Matt Ballesty as its new CEO.

Ballesty, who will begin the role on March 5, has described the appointment as a “homecoming”.

“I’ve been passionate about racing for a long time as both an enthusiast and an owner and I can’t wait to get stuck into the hard work of further developing thoroughbred racing in New Zealand,” he said in a statement.

He replaces current CEO Bruce Sharrock, who announced he was leaving in October last year.

NZTR has described Ballesty as a “highly respected senior executive” with more than 30 years’ experience in high-performance leadership, as well as strategic commercial development and execution. 

A New Zealand-Australian citizen, he has had several senior executive roles in Australia, Macau and Canada. He was also a board member with Auckland business association Heart of the City.

NZTR chair Russell Warwick said Ballesty’s unique skills made him ideal to lead the organisation.

“The racing industry is going through a period of significant change and Matt is the perfect candidate to ensure that every person contributing to the industry continues to play a key role in the future,” Warwick said. “This appointment is about securing the legacy of the racing industry in the long term. We could not be happier to have someone of Matt’s calibre holding the reins at this critical point.”

Entain Australia and New Zealand is a key strategic partner for NZTR and its chief executive, Dean Shannon, also welcomed the appointment.

“Matt is a genuinely good human who’s fully committed to ensuring that the racing industry reaches its full potential in New Zealand,” said Shannon.  “We can’t wait to see what he brings to the table in the coming years.” 


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New CEO takes over the reins at NZ Thoroughbred Racing
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