Australian Grand Prix Chair Walker To Be Replaced By Cricket World Cup CEO Harnden

Australian Grand Prix Chair RON WALKER "is to step down from the post after 22 years, as part of an overhaul of the event," according to Peter Rolfe of the HERALD SUN. The former lord mayor and Crown co-founder "will officially retire from the job he has held since 1994 after next year’s 20th Formula One race at Albert Park, when the current contract is due to expire." Walker said, “I’m 75 this year and it’s good governance to let someone fresh take the reins.’’ Walker, 74, has hand-picked his replacement -- Cricket World Cup CEO JOHN HARNDEN -- "and the decision has been ratified by the Grand Prix Corporation board." Walker, who is also chairman of the popular MotoGP at Phillip Island, said Harnden had been a “very able deputy chairman’’ and was “the next generation" (HERALD SUN, 3/20).