‘Needs results’: New REAL CEO looks to stabilize finances

Regina Exhibition Association Limited has named Rick Bennett its new president and CEO. (Photo courtesy: REAL)

At the start of June, seven members of the Regina Exhibition Association Limited (REAL) as were laid off as part of restructuring the organization.

A new president and Chief Executive Officer was also announced last week, in Rick Bennett. Monday was his first day on the job.

“When we start to look forward, there’s a number of items that we hope to accomplish,” said Bennett. “First of all, REAL doesn’t need more reports, it needs results. We’re really looking to ignite the passion for financial stability, a direction forward and clarity that’s really going to stem around creating a plan that’s sustainable.

Bennett believes that it should also be backed by private sector investment.

“We obviously have a financial challenge and we’re at that crossroads right now of where challenge meets opportunity,” he said. “I think to the City of Regina, there’s an expectation that we stabilize finances and that’s been well underway. We’ve got a critically focused board of directors at this point who have communicated that mandate to the entire team.”

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Bennett hopes to see the diversification of programming on the overall site and would like to see that applied to the buildings on a regular basis.

“We’ve got a challenge in terms of the physical infrastructure reaching the end of its life cycle, and that’s going to be one of our biggest nuggets to solve,” he said.

Bennett also mentioned that the depth of infrastructure, hotel availability, roads, airport access, public transportation, all play a critical role in terms of activating the local space.