Inglis Victorian Bloodstock Manager Simon Vivian is retiring from the company following 44 years of industry service.
Vivian, 64, began at Coles Brothers in Adelaide in 1977 and joined Inglis in 2004.
He will officially retire at the conclusion of the Easter Yearling Sale in April.
James Price – a former Inglis employee and most recently CEO of Woodside Park Stud – will return to Inglis to take up the position of Victorian Bloodstock Manager upon Vivian’s departure.
Price will start with Inglis on March 15.
Vivian, 64, said he had been contemplating retirement for “some time now’’ and felt the time was right to do so.
“I’ve had a wonderful ride, my entire career has been a privilege and you need to choose the right time to step back and I believe now is that time,’’ Vivian said.
“I couldn’t have asked for a better professional career, I’ve loved every minute of it but now it’s time to spend more time with Carleen, the kids and the grandchildren.
“I’ve worked with some of the greatest people and greatest minds in this great industry of ours – both internally and our fantastic clients – and I thank every single one of them for the joy they’ve brought me in my time as a bloodstock agent.’’
Vivian began at Inglis in 2004 as a bloodstock consultant and auctioneer following the Dalgety takeover.
He became Victorian Bloodstock Manager upon the retirement of Peter Heagney in 2016.
On top of his Inglis career Vivian has also worked in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland, the UK, Asia and has been Inglis’ South African representative since 2009.
“I’ve had a blessed career, the people, the horses, the company, it’s been fabulous,’’ he said.
“I can’t thank Arthur and Jamie and Reg Inglis and Mark Webster enough for the support they have given me over my journey.
“Inglis is the most remarkable company to work for and I wish James Price and all the staff all the very best in the future.’’
Inglis Managing Director Mark Webster praised Vivian’s impact on the bloodstock and breeding industries throughout his career.
“In this industry, Simon Vivian is a household name,’’ Webster said.
“Simon has had an incredible influence over so many people during his career and his work ethic and relationship-building with clients is second-to-none.
“He has always shown a unique passion for the industry and especially the Victorian industry and the Premier Sale and while he is a great loss to the company, I wish him absolute relaxation and good health in retirement and thank him dearly for everything he has done not only for Inglis but also the industry as a whole. We are all indebted to him.’’
It is a homecoming of sorts for Price, who started as an intern at Inglis in 2006 and continued with the company as a Bloodstock Sales Consultant (2007-2015) before moving to the Melbourne office as a Senior Bloodstock Consultant in 2015 until starting at Woodside Park in 2018.
“I’ve spent most of my professional working life at Inglis and it’s a company I have always admired, from Arthur and Charlotte and Jamie and Sarah down, they are just fantastic people and that’s important to me when choosing my career path,’’ Price said.
“I worked under Simon for many years and I have the utmost respect for him both as a person and as a professional so to be replacing somebody I view so highly is truly overwhelming.
“He, Sebastian, Jonathan and the entire bloodstock team have created such an amazing base and I can’t wait to come in and be a part of that again and help take Inglis to even greater heights for our clients in years to come.’’
