SUPERCARS MD TO LEAVE.
Matt Braid – Supercars MD set to leave – Photo: Dirk Klynsmith
Matt Braid, managing director of Supercars, is leaving.
By PAUL GOVER, News Limited
His time in touring cars will be up at the end of the year as he works through his resignation from the post.
News of Braid’s departure broke late last week, but there was no confirmation until Monday morning from Supercars headquarters in Sydney after Auto Action raised the question with CEO James Warburton. Supercars staff were quickly advised of the news.
Officially, Braid is leaving because family commitments mean he cannot commit to the extensive travel involved in his role.
But there have been a number of questions raised by teams and board members this year over several of his responsibilities, including the delay on the introduction of SuperUtes and the controversial plan for a Super5000 open-wheeler racing car.
Warburton has been a long-term supporter of Braid and spoke highly of his deputy in the announcement of his resignation.
“I look forward to working with Matt for the remainder of the year and taking more steps towards realising our 2025 vision. We will be sorry to see him go, but family always comes first,” says Warburton.
Braid came to Supercars from Volvo, where he had been managing director and the person who led the Swedish brand into Australian touring car racing with its S60 sedan.
His original appointment was as commercial director at the start of 2015, but under the leadership of Warburton he was promoted to a new role as managing director just a year later.
“Matt has done a tremendous job in rebuilding our Commercial sales operation into a very robust and successful team which is a market leader in Australian sport,” says Warburton.
“The sport has never been stronger commercially and the proof is not only in our results but in the calibre of new partners we have secured in recent times.
“Personally, Matt has been an enormous asset in running the day to day operations of the business which collectively this has allowed us to achieve some outstanding results and momentum.
“Matt has also worked tirelessly on a number of 2025 projects, most notably the recent SuperUtes Series and announcements which will come to life in 2018, as well as the Super5000 concept.”
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