New General Manager for Vbase
New General Manager for Vbase
Darren Burden has been appointed to head Christchurch's leading venue management company, Vbase.
Mr Burden takes up the position of Vbase General Manager after several years in Dunedin, where he played a pivotal role in the development of the multi-million-dollar Forsyth Barr Stadium.
He was head of the Carisbrook Stadium Trust, which led the drive to get the stadium built, and then operations director for Dunedin Venues, which manages the stadium and the Dunedin Centre and Town Hall on behalf of the Dunedin City Council.
In his role as operations director Mr Burden had responsibility for monitoring the completion of the stadium and ensuring it was fully operational in time for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. He was also responsible for overseeing events and operations at the Dunedin Centre and Town Hall, which was undergoing a major redevelopment at the time.
In December 2012 Mr Burden took on the position of chief executive of Dunedin Venues, overseeing all aspects of the business.
Previously he has worked as a strategy manager for Arrow International and has been involved in the inception, feasibility, and strategy stages of many property-related projects.
Mr Burden says he is excited to be joining Vbase at such a critical time in the redevelopment of Christchurch.
"It is an exciting and challenging time and I am really looking forward to playing a role in the future economic success of Christchurch by attracting new events and business to Vbase's impressive line-up of venues.
"There are fantastic facilities in this city for high-value sporting, entertainment, business and convention events and I'm determined to ensure that Christchurch corners its share of these very important markets.
"I am also very excited about the opportunity to work on the city's future venue and anchor project developments," Mr Burden says.
Background information
Vbase is the venue
manager of Christchurch's premier convention, entertainment,
cultural and sporting venues - CBS Canterbury Arena, Air
Force Museum, AMI Stadium and the new Botanic Gardens
Centre. Over the last 12 months the Vbase team has secured,
planned and delivered over 1200 events across its three
venues. Vbase is a 100 per cent subsidiary of Christchurch
City Council and is tasked with maximising event days at all
venues, and securing events that will attract local,
national and international visitors to Christchurch and
generate economic benefit for the city.
Website: www.vbase.co.nz
ENDS