The chief executive of Cycling New Zealand Jacques Landry has announced his resignation amid an ongoing investigation in to the death of representative cyclist Olivia Podmore.
Outgoing Cycling NZ chief executive Jacques Landry. Photo: Photosport
Landry has been in the role for three years and is returning to his native Canada.
He took up the role in 2018 to implement the recommendations of the Heron report which exposed a culture of bullying, poor behaviour, and lack of accountability within the sport's dysfunctional high performance.
Cycling NZ chair Phil Holden said Landry had indicated in June he was intending to step down but delayed his departure because of the current independent inquiry.
"Mr Landry has made a major contribution to the organisation during his tenure, and we're sad to lose him," Holden said.
"He is highly regarded within Cycling New Zealand and the wider cycling community."
"He has been unable to leave the country and visit his family overseas for over two years because of ongoing delays in assessing his residency application, and there is no certainty at all over when the situation might be resolved. For his own personal wellbeing and that of his family, Mr Landry has made the difficult decision to leave, and we fully support him in that."
Holden said Landry would continue to make himself available to the inquiry panel at any time after his departure from the organisation.
The independent panel led by Michael Heron QC and professor Sarah Leberman was due to make a draft report before Christmas, but that is now likely to be February with Covid-19 delays being cited for panel members not being able to complete face to face interviews with stakeholders.
-RNZ