{{short description|Australian businessman, and rugby league administrator}} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}}

'''Mick Watson''' (born 1966 in Sydney) is an Australian businessman and former director of sports at Rangitoto College.<ref name="nzherald">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10620545|title=Watson to take charge of sport at college|last=Cleaver|first=Dylan|date=16 January 2010|work=New Zealand Herald|publisher=APN Holdings NZ Limited|access-date=12 March 2010}}</ref>

== Early life == Watson attended Marist Brothers Parramatta in Sydney's western suburbs, representing the school in cricket, rugby league, athletics and swimming.{{Citation needed|date=February 2021}}

He spent 12 years working in the 'Cola Wars'. From 1986 to 1992, he worked for Coca-Cola, moving through the ranks of marketing and sales. From 1992 to 1998 he was with Pepsi Cola, working with athletes, creating sports sponsorship and was also responsible for sports and event marketing.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10342343|title=League: More upheaval at Warriors as Watson goes |first= Peter |last=Jessup |date=25 August 2005 |publisher=nzherald |access-date=11 September 2012}}</ref>

He joined Kellogg's in 1998. He was responsible for re-engineering sports properties and helping Kellogg's deliver their business plan for the first time in 19 years.<ref name="Watson">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10123070|publisher=The New Zealand Herald |title=League: Mick Watson regrets the high life |access-date=11 September 2012|date=30 April 2005}}</ref>

== New Zealand Warriors == In November 2000, Watson was appointed chief executive officer of the New Zealand Warriors, shortly after chairman Eric Watson purchased the New Zealand licence to compete in the National Rugby League.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rotherham|first=Fiona |date=1 December 2002|title=The Warriors' make-over|url=http://www.sharechat.co.nz/article/f85275ae/the-warriors-make-over.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-01|website=www.sharechat.co.nz}}</ref> He was involved with the club when they made the finals series of the NRL for 3 consecutive years (2001, 2002 and 2003).<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jessup|first=Peter|date=17 August 2001|title=Rugby league: Warriors finally winning respect|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/rugby-league-warriors-finally-winning-respect/7Q3V7ORWPGS7YS45GWSCQR7VTQ/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-01|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2003-09-24|title=Warriors thank fans with free tickets |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-09-24/warriors-thank-fans-with-free-tickets/1483228|access-date=2021-02-01|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Bradford|first=Gillian|date=3 October 2002|title=The latest Kiwi heroes |url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2002/s692881.htm |work=ABC |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111201924/http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2002/s692881.htm |archive-date=11 November 2012|access-date=2021-02-01}}</ref> Under his leadership the club secured its first title, winning the J.J. Giltinan Shield for the minor premiership in 2002. The same year the Warriors made its NRL Grand Final for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Taylor|first=Phil|date=30 April 2005|title=League: Mick Watson regrets the high life|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/league-mick-watson-regrets-the-high-life/7FPNRYKUGFUEOIU45MGOI6IK24/ |access-date=2021-02-01|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref>

Watson resigned from the Warriors at the end of the 2005 season.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jessup|first=Peter|date=24 August 2005|title=League: More upheaval at Warriors as Watson goes|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/league-more-upheaval-at-warriors-as-watson-goes/5RVSQJN2MVSPQFW4ONP6YG2E4I/ |archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-01|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Warriors' majority shareholder Eric Watson said Watson had played a huge role in rebuilding the club. "When we had problems in 2004, Mick had to remove himself from Cullen Sports projects and come back into the rugby league business," he said.<ref>{{cite web|first=|title=Watson resigns from Warriors |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/content/606553/2422021.html |publisher=TVNZ – One News|access-date=<!-- 5:13PM --> 24 August 2005}}</ref> During Watson's time at the Warriors, the club reached the NRL finals for the first time in their history (2001), repeated the feat the next two seasons and, in 2002, also won the minor premiership and made the grand final for the first time but in the past two years he has fallen out with leading media outlets for periods.<ref name=Murk>{{cite news|title=Chris Rattue: In murk and muck it's always Mick|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10370471 |work=The New Zealand Herald |access-date=6 October 2012|date=1 March 2006}}</ref>

== Boxing == Watson created the Cullen Sports boxing division which includes New Zealand Heavyweight Shane Cameron (former IBF Australasian, IBF Pan Pacific).<ref name=Murk/>

In 2007, Watson and former Rugby League star Monty Betham formed WAAAM Boxing and created Dodge Fight Night.<ref>{{cite web|website=Stuff |title=Monty camp eye bout on Holyfield card|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-news/sport/other-sports/45793/Monty-camp-eye-bout-on-Holyfield-card|publisher=Sunday News|date=5 August 2007}}</ref> A professional Boxing event that was broadcast live on TVNZ in New Zealand and delayed to Australia and Samoa. WAAAM Boxing promoted Anthony Mundine, Steven Heremia, Tyrone Brunson, Peter Kariuki and Mohammed Azzaiouii.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wheatley|first=Ray|date=30 April 2007|title=Mundine to Defend in New Zealand|url=https://www.boxingforum.com/boxing-forum-general-discussion/1730-mundine-defend-new-zealand.html|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-02-01|website=www.boxingforum.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2011-07-07|title=World rated cruiserweight Mohamed Azzaoui|url=http://www.algeria.com/forums/sports-sports/13324-2.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707111646/http://www.algeria.com/forums/sports-sports/13324-2.htm|archive-date=7 July 2011|access-date=2021-02-01}}</ref>

==Other work== During his tenure as CEO Cullen Sports,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Rattue|first=Chris|date=25 February 2004|title=Murdoch link to Pacific plan |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/murdoch-link-to-pacific-plan/5KUAWHYA4KLMLCO5NCVOUR6XM4/ |access-date=2021-02-01 |website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}</ref> Watson wrote and created Prime's first NZ produced product – The Tem Show, starring Temuera Morrison.<ref>{{cite news|title=Tem Morrison to star on small screen|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=3540460 |work=The New Zealand Herald |date=<!-- 3:41 AM --> 20 December 2003}}</ref> Watson was appointed ambassador for Auckland Cancer Society in 2001 and 2002.{{cn|date=October 2025}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Mick}} Category:1966 births Category:Living people Category:Australian businesspeople Category:Australian rugby league administrators Category:New Zealand Warriors administrators Category:People educated at Parramatta Marist High School