By Duncan Mackay

The Commonwealth Games Federations are set to interview candidates of its new chief executive at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort ©Hilton HotelsFinal interviews for a new chief executive of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) are due to take place in Dubai tomorrow.


A meeting of the CGF Executive Board, led by President Prince Tunku Imran from Malaysia, will interview the candidates at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort‏ before choosing the successful applicant to replace Mike Hooper.

The New Zealander is stepping down after Glasgow 2014 following 14 years in charge.

First interviews have already taken place for the £165,000 ($274,000/€199,000) per year job and an official announcement is due to be made next week. 

insidethegames understands that a shortlist of four candidates will be interviewed.

They include three Britons and an American.

One of them is currently chief executive of a major British governing body and another is secretary general of an international federation based in Switzerland.

The head of a Government agency is also a candidate, while another is currently involved with an upcoming major Games.

Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper (left), pictured with Canada's CGF vice-president Bruce Robertson (centre) and Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg (right), is stepping after down after 14 years ©Glasgow 2014Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper (left), pictured with Canada's CGF vice-president Bruce Robertson (centre) and Glasgow 2014 chief executive David Grevemberg (right), is stepping after down after 14 years ©Glasgow 2014

Head-hunters Odgers Berndtson, Britain's leading executive search firm, had been appointed to recruit a replacement.

Among the attributes the successful candidate must have, according to the job advertisement, is to "provide business and commercial acumen, with the ability to negotiate contracts" and to "display excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build strong senior relationships across sport and non-sport stakeholders and partners, both nationally and internationally".

They must also have "outstanding communication and presentation skills".

A key role is also the ability to —"foster interest in governments/cities/CGAs to bid for future Commonwealth Games' (CG) and Commonwealth Youth Games' (CYG)".

Besides Prince Tunku, the CGF Board includes South Africa's Gideon Sam, who is vice-president; Scotland's Louise Martin, the honorary secretary general; Barbados' Austin Sealy, a member of the International Olympic Committee who is honorary treasurer; and Canada's Suzanne Weckend-Dill, the athletes' representative.

Other items due to be discussed by the Executive Board include a review of final CGF Coordination Commission report on Glasgow 2014, an update on Gold Coast 2018, a long-term review of the sports programme and a report on the on the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa.

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