Terry Serepisos
Encyclopedia
Terry Serepisos is a bankrupt Wellington
-based property developer
and former owner of A-League
association football club Wellington Phoenix
. In 2010 he was the host in the New Zealand incarnation of the hit TV series The Apprentice.
, Terry Serepisos and his family emigrated to New Zealand
when he was two years old. Serepisos attended Rongotai College
with All Whites legend Wynton Rufer
.
His company Century City manages a portfolio of properties in the greater Wellington area and includes commercial buildings, high-end inner city apartments, retail spaces and residential homes.
He has invested in, and developed, a number of Wellington landmark sites. These include the former Bank of New Zealand (Manners Street), Maison Cabriole (Tory Street), National Bank Building (Courtenay Place
), Prudential Building (Lambton Quay), Century City Tower (former World Trade Centre, Victoria Street), Lone Star Building (Tory Street), Century City Carpark Building (Tory Street), and IBM Building (The Esplanade, Petone
).
football legend David Beckham
and his Los Angeles Galaxy
team to play an exhibition game against the Wellington club. In 2007 Serepisos was the recipient of the Mercure Wellington Sports Personality of the Year award for his contribution to sport in Wellington in the year that had passed.
Many New Zealand football fans believe that it was Serepisos' actions that helped get the New Zealand national football team into the 2010 World Cup. Serepisos has been open to agree with the argument "They say I'm the saviour of football in this country. Well, they're right."
On 23 September 2011, it was announced that Terry had relinquished ownership of the club after ongoing personal financial difficulties. Subsequently a new consortium of 7 Wellington businessman headed by Rob Morrison took control of the club. He was declared bankrupt the following Monday.
debts could lead to the liquidation of his football club, it was revealed that Serepisos also owed $1.4 million in unpaid rates and ground leases to the Wellington City Council. On 26 September 2011 he was declared bankrupt at the Wellington High Court.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
-based property developer
Real estate development
Real estate development, or Property Development, is a multifaceted business, encompassing activities that range from the renovation and re-lease of existing buildings to the purchase of raw land and the sale of improved land or parcels to others...
and former owner of A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
association football club Wellington Phoenix
Wellington Phoenix FC
Wellington Phoenix Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wellington, New Zealand. The club competes in the Football Federation of Australia A-League. Ricki Herbert has been the coach since the club's inception to the A-League in July 2007. The current club captain is...
. In 2010 he was the host in the New Zealand incarnation of the hit TV series The Apprentice.
Biography
Born in GreeceGreece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, Terry Serepisos and his family emigrated to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
when he was two years old. Serepisos attended Rongotai College
Rongotai College
Rongotai College is an all-boys state secondary school in the south-eastern suburb of Rongotai in Wellington, New Zealand. The students are aged 12 to 19.The decile 6 school has a roll of over 650 students...
with All Whites legend Wynton Rufer
Wynton Rufer
Wynton Alan Whai Rufer, CNZM, , is a retired New Zealand footballer, who played as a striker. He spent most of his professional career in Germany with Werder Bremen, winning a total of six titles. He also appeared for the New Zealand national team in its first FIFA World Cup participation, in 1982...
.
Business
Serepisos made his name in property development, with an estimated personal worth of -202 million dollars (NZD).His company Century City manages a portfolio of properties in the greater Wellington area and includes commercial buildings, high-end inner city apartments, retail spaces and residential homes.
He has invested in, and developed, a number of Wellington landmark sites. These include the former Bank of New Zealand (Manners Street), Maison Cabriole (Tory Street), National Bank Building (Courtenay Place
Courtenay Place, Wellington
Courtenay Place is the main street of the Courtenay Quarter in the Wellington, New Zealand inner-city district of Te Aro.Courtenay Place is known for its entertainment and nightlife. Many restaurants are open late and most of the bars stay open until dawn...
), Prudential Building (Lambton Quay), Century City Tower (former World Trade Centre, Victoria Street), Lone Star Building (Tory Street), Century City Carpark Building (Tory Street), and IBM Building (The Esplanade, Petone
Petone
Petone is a major suburb of the city of Lower Hutt in New Zealand. It is located at the southern end of the narrow triangular plain of the Hutt River, on the northern shore of Wellington Harbour...
).
Wellington Phoenix
On 19 March 2007 it was announced that New Zealand Football would be entering a new Wellington-based team into the Hyundai A-League and that Serepisos would be providing the one million dollars (NZD) start-up capital and be the club's sole owner. http://www.infonews.co.nz/news.cfm?l=86&t=0&id=407 In the first season of the club, Serepisos played a key role in getting EnglishEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
football legend David Beckham
David Beckham
David Robert Joseph Beckham, OBE is an English footballer who plays midfield for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer, having previously played for Manchester United, Preston North End, Real Madrid, and A.C...
and his Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
team to play an exhibition game against the Wellington club. In 2007 Serepisos was the recipient of the Mercure Wellington Sports Personality of the Year award for his contribution to sport in Wellington in the year that had passed.
Many New Zealand football fans believe that it was Serepisos' actions that helped get the New Zealand national football team into the 2010 World Cup. Serepisos has been open to agree with the argument "They say I'm the saviour of football in this country. Well, they're right."
On 23 September 2011, it was announced that Terry had relinquished ownership of the club after ongoing personal financial difficulties. Subsequently a new consortium of 7 Wellington businessman headed by Rob Morrison took control of the club. He was declared bankrupt the following Monday.
The Apprentice New Zealand
In 2010 Serepisos featured in the 13 week first series of The Apprentice New Zealand as the master to the would-be apprentices. The show aired in New Zealand on Television One. Thomas Ben won and was awarded a $200,000 employment deal working with Serepisos.Bankruptcy
After revelations that unpaid ACCACC
ACC may refer to:-Business:* ACC Limited, Indian cement manufacturer* ACCBank, Ireland* American Campus Communities, private student housing provider* American Communications Corp, cabling company in San Diego...
debts could lead to the liquidation of his football club, it was revealed that Serepisos also owed $1.4 million in unpaid rates and ground leases to the Wellington City Council. On 26 September 2011 he was declared bankrupt at the Wellington High Court.