Vale: Alan Garner, sports journalist and marketeer

Alan Garner, General Manager - Business Development at Vbase in Christchurch, New Zealand has passed away unexpectedly.

Alan began his career as a radio sports journalist and covered several All Blacks tours as well as the first Rugby World Cup in 1987. He then moved into the corporate sector and managed the sponsorship portfolios of several large companies, including Telecom and New Zealand Post. In 1997 Alan joined the New Zealand Rugby Union where he was responsible for managing the Union's sponsorship and licensing programme.

Alan studied full-time towards an MBA which he completed at Victoria University in 2004. He then established his own company providing sports marketing and sponsorship consultancy services to sporting organisations including SPARC and national sports bodies.

Looking for a change, Alan joined Vbase in 2006. As the General Manager, Business Development, Alan led the team that secures business from the various markets in which Vbase operates, including conventions, exhibitions, concerts, sports and gala events.

At the beginning of December, Alan addressed a Venue Management Association (VMA) function about recent events with the earthquake in Christchurch.

VMA General Manager John Glenn recalls that "it was very obvious to me at that function and afterwards that Alan was a very popular and highly respected member of the Vbase team and Christchurch community."