Search on for local SDB boss

THE Sports Development Board fears a suitable home-grown replacement for its current chief executive Howard Wells may not be found.

Wells finishes his contract in March next year and, in line with SDB policy, is due to be replaced by a local candidate.

But York Chow, vice-chairman of the SDB, admitted yesterday that a qualified local candidate may be difficult to find.

'There is plenty of talent in Hong Kong,' Chow said. 'But the question is whether they would be willing to take up such a post, which is really an end-of-career type job.

'Howard knows that the SDB will be looking to find a local chief executive in 1996, so there is no hard feelings in that sense.

'There were many local candidates who applied with Howard when the SDB started in 1989, but none of them were really suitable. It is something that we have to be very careful about.' Chow said he could think of several people in Hong Kong who would be ideal for the job, but is not certain whether or not they would be willing to give up their current positions.

He said Wells' position, which offers an estimated $2 million annual remuneration package, would be advertised and the board expects to hire a recruitment firm to screen candidates.

Before the SDB's merger with the Hong Kong Sports Institute, a consultancy firm was hired to make recom-mendations for the forthcoming Strategic Plan and on the merged body's future.

One of the recommendations concerned the future chief executive who, the consultancy firm suggests, should preferably have a 70 per cent background in management and a 30 per cent background in sport.

'Howard has achieved a lot in his time at the SDB and his departure will be a big loss,' Chow said.