In another of several strategic steps to move the company in a new direction, officials at the World Triathlon Corporation, organizers of the Ironman Triathlon World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, announced today they have released race director Sharron Ackles. The change comes at a time when the company is reassessing its operations on all fronts.

“Our board of directors is reassessing the way WTC functions as a whole,” said WTC president Lew Friedland. “We feel the race has reached a plateau and felt it was time for a fresh perspective. Sharron has done a good job of nurturing the event and its athletes, but we feel a change is necessary in order to keep Ironman Triathlon World Championship the sport's preeminent event here in Kona.” WTC has established a search committee to identify and eventually select the new race director. No timeline has been established for filling the position.