Criticized Olympic Executive Quits

Mark Tanner, the chief financial officer of the Salt Lake Olympics, resigned Tuesday--a move that comes about two months after his budget was criticized by the head organizer.

Tanner is quitting to become chief financial officer at Salt Lake City-based Mrs. Field’s Cookies. Within a month of Tanner becoming chief executive last year, Mitt Romney, president of the organizing committee, described mistakes in the $1.45-billion budget that Tanner helped put together.

The games will cost about $40 million more because of incorrect assumptions concerning federal funding and the cost of supplies. Information technology also will cost $25 million more than budgeted, Romney said at the time.

Tanner said the criticisms had nothing to do with his departure.

In other news, Romney said outside financial help is a must if Salt Lake City’s sports venues are to open for pre-Olympics training.

The committee faces a $300-million gap in sponsorships, caused at least in part by the worst corruption case in Olympic history.