Mick Watson
Encyclopedia
Mick Watson is an Australia
n businessman and the current director of sports at Rangitoto College
.
in Sydney's western suburbs, representing the school in cricket, rugby league, athletics and swimming.
Between 1986 and 1992, Watson was employed by Coca-Cola
, moving through the ranks of marketing and sales. From 1992 to 1998 Watson was with Pepsi Cola, working with athletes, creating sports sponsorship and he was also responsible for sports and event marketing.
He joined Kellogg’s in 1998 after working for 12 years within the 'Cola Wars'. He was responsible for re-engineering sports properties and helping Kellogg’s deliver their business plan for the first time in 19 years.
, shortly after chairman Eric Watson purchased the New Zealand licence to compete in the National Rugby League
.
Watson was involved with the club when they made the finals series of the NRL for 3 consecutive years (2001, 2002 and 2003). Under his leadership the club secured its first title, winning the J.J. Giltinan Shield for the minor premiership in 2002. The same year the Warriors made its NRL Grand Final for the first time.
Watson resigned from the Warriors at the end of the 2005 season.
Warriors' majority shareholder Eric Watson said Watson had played a huge role in rebuilding the club. "When we had problems in 2004, Mick had to remove himself from Cullen Sports projects and come back into the rugby league business," he said. During Watson's time at the Warriors, the club reached the NRL finals for the first time in their history (2001), repeated the feat the next two seasons and, in 2002, also won the minor premiership and made the grand final for the first time but in the past two years he has fallen out with leading media outlets for periods.
(former IBF Australasian, IBF Pan Pacific).
In 2007 Watson and former Rugby League star Monty Betham
formed WAAAM Boxing and created Dodge Fight Night. A professional Boxing event that was broadcast live on TVNZ in New Zealand and delayed to Australia and Samoa. WAAAM Boxing promoted Anthony Mundine
, Steven Heremia, Tyrone Brunson, Peter Kariuki and Mohammed Azzaiouii.
. He also conceptualised and produced ‘Controversy Corner’, a weekly panel style radio program that aired weekly on Radio Sport. Watson was appointed ambassador for Auckland Cancer Society in 2001 and 2002. In his role he helped launch the inaugural Relay for Life fundraising event.
It has been slated that The Tem Show could be renewed for a second season nearly a decade on, however Temuera Morrison
has dismissed this speculation to date.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n businessman and the current director of sports at Rangitoto College
Rangitoto College
Rangitoto College is the largest secondary school in New Zealand with over 3,000 students as of 2007. The Correspondence School has more enrolled secondary students, but fewer full-time equivalent secondary students....
.
Early life
Watson attended Parramatta Marist High SchoolParramatta Marist High School
Parramatta Marist High School is the oldest Catholic school in Australia.Parramatta Marist began as a school established by Father John Therry in 1820, under the direction of Mr George Morley. The school was transferred to the site of the present Cathedral in 1837 and entrusted to the care of the...
in Sydney's western suburbs, representing the school in cricket, rugby league, athletics and swimming.
Between 1986 and 1992, Watson was employed by Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola
Coca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
, moving through the ranks of marketing and sales. From 1992 to 1998 Watson was with Pepsi Cola, working with athletes, creating sports sponsorship and he was also responsible for sports and event marketing.
He joined Kellogg’s in 1998 after working for 12 years within the 'Cola Wars'. He was responsible for re-engineering sports properties and helping Kellogg’s deliver their business plan for the first time in 19 years.
New Zealand Warriors
In November 2000, Watson was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the New Zealand WarriorsNew Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors are a professional rugby league football club based in Auckland, New Zealand. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership and are the League's only team from outside Australia...
, shortly after chairman Eric Watson purchased the New Zealand licence to compete in the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
.
Watson was involved with the club when they made the finals series of the NRL for 3 consecutive years (2001, 2002 and 2003). Under his leadership the club secured its first title, winning the J.J. Giltinan Shield for the minor premiership in 2002. The same year the Warriors made its NRL Grand Final for the first time.
Watson resigned from the Warriors at the end of the 2005 season.
Warriors' majority shareholder Eric Watson said Watson had played a huge role in rebuilding the club. "When we had problems in 2004, Mick had to remove himself from Cullen Sports projects and come back into the rugby league business," he said. During Watson's time at the Warriors, the club reached the NRL finals for the first time in their history (2001), repeated the feat the next two seasons and, in 2002, also won the minor premiership and made the grand final for the first time but in the past two years he has fallen out with leading media outlets for periods.
Boxing
Watson created the Cullen Sports boxing division which includes New Zealand Heavyweight Shane CameronShane Cameron
Shane "Mountain Warrior" Cameron is a former 2002 Commonwealth Games bronze medal winner currently competing in the cruiserweight division...
(former IBF Australasian, IBF Pan Pacific).
In 2007 Watson and former Rugby League star Monty Betham
Monty Betham
Monty Betham is a professional boxer and former rugby league footballer and junior world karate champion...
formed WAAAM Boxing and created Dodge Fight Night. A professional Boxing event that was broadcast live on TVNZ in New Zealand and delayed to Australia and Samoa. WAAAM Boxing promoted Anthony Mundine
Anthony Mundine
Anthony Mundine is an Australian professional boxer and former rugby league footballer.He is the current interim WBA Light Middleweight Champion boxer, former two-time WBA Super Middleweight Champion, former IBO Middleweight Champion and New South Wales State of Origin representative footballer....
, Steven Heremia, Tyrone Brunson, Peter Kariuki and Mohammed Azzaiouii.
Other work
During his tenure as CEO Cullen Sports, Watson wrote and created Prime (New Zealand)'s first NZ produced product – The Tem Show, starring Temuera MorrisonTemuera Morrison
Temuera Derek Morrison is a New Zealand-born actor. He has become one of the country's most famous stars for his roles as the abusive Jake "the Muss" Heke in 1994's Once Were Warriors and as bounty hunter Jango Fett and the Clone Troopers in the Star Wars series...
. He also conceptualised and produced ‘Controversy Corner’, a weekly panel style radio program that aired weekly on Radio Sport. Watson was appointed ambassador for Auckland Cancer Society in 2001 and 2002. In his role he helped launch the inaugural Relay for Life fundraising event.
It has been slated that The Tem Show could be renewed for a second season nearly a decade on, however Temuera Morrison
Temuera Morrison
Temuera Derek Morrison is a New Zealand-born actor. He has become one of the country's most famous stars for his roles as the abusive Jake "the Muss" Heke in 1994's Once Were Warriors and as bounty hunter Jango Fett and the Clone Troopers in the Star Wars series...
has dismissed this speculation to date.
Views on Immigration
In an interview with the New Zealand Listener, Watson railed against Asian immigration into Australia. He said "as an Australian living here [New Zealand] and with the full intention of staying here, [I say] beware immigration. Just look towards Australia [and what has happened there since] opening the floodgates to South-east Asia. Look at the growing population … of crime, cultures that refuse to accept your culture.” Watson, according to the Listener, felt that Asian immigrants had 'ruined' Sydney, and would hate the same to happen to Auckland.External links
- http://www.sharechat.co.nz/article/f85275ae/the-warriors-make-over.html
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=3551158
- http://www.boxingforum.com/boxing-forum-general-discussion/1730-mundine-defend-new-zealand.html
- http://www.algeria.com/forums/sports-sports/13324-2.htm
- http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/another-league-star-goes-the-full-monty/2006/11/30/1164777721538.html
- http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=9095&more=1
- http://tvnz.co.nz/content/606553/2422021.html
- http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=208255
- http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2002/s692881.htm
- http://abc.gov.au/news/stories/2003/09/24/952580.htm