The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has appointed Katie Sadleir as its new chief executive.
The New Zealander will take up the position from her current role at World Rugby, where she is the general manager of Women’s Rugby.
A Commonwealth Games medallist and an Olympian, Sadleir went on to serve as New Zealand’s assistant chef de mission at the 1994 Commonwealth Games and has attended six editions of the multi-sport competition in various capacities.
In addition, she has led the establishment of the New Zealand Academy of Sport network in the late 1990s before becoming general manager of Sport and Recreation New Zealand – now Sport New Zealand – from 2000 to 2006.
Sadleir has also held directorships with both Sport New Zealand and High-Performance Sport New Zealand. She has been a director with the International Association of Elite Sport Training Centres, a board member of the New Zealand Swimming Federation and a member of the New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) Athletes’ Commission.
As general manager of Women’s Rugby since 2016, Sadleir’s notable achievements included developing and implemented the 2017 to 2025 women’s strategic plan to promote, grow and commercialise the women’s game.
Sadleir will formally take up her new role in November 2021, replacing David Grevemberg who stood down in March of this year.
“I am delighted to be taking up the CGF chief executive officer role at what is very exciting time for the Commonwealth Sport Movement,” said Sadleir.
“With Birmingham 2022 fast approaching and the Games nearing its centenary in 2030, there is a fantastic opportunity to enhance our global sporting movement as one that is fully focused on community legacy, benefit and impact through sport.”
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Appointments
Steve Bornstein
President, North America, Genius Sports
Previously: Chief executive, NFL Network
Karin Timpone
Executive vice president, chief marketing officer, MLB
Previously: Global chief marketing officer, Marriot International
Joel Browning
Executive vice president and chief financial officer, Atlanta Hawks
Previously: Vice president, team marketing and business operations, National Basketball Association (NBA)
Mike Muriano
Executive producer, live sports, Prime Video, Amazon
Previously: Vice president and executive producer, studio and remote content, NFL Network
Notes: Muriano’s departure from the NFL Network has seen Charlie Yook promoted to executive producer of NFL Media.
Matt Saler
Vice president, Finn Partners
Previously: Vice president, sports marketing, Imre
Julian Mellini
Vice president of strategy, insights and growth, Rebel Ventures
Previously: Global head of strategic insights and analytics, Real Madrid
Ajay Singh
Chief financial officer, The Ironman Group
Previously: Executive vice president, executive in the office of the chief financial officer, News Corp
Paul Ballew
Chief data and analytics officer, National Football League (NFL)
Previously: Chief data and analytics officer, Loblaw Companies
Darren Henry
Commercial director, British Cycling
Previously: Head of partnerships, Southampton FC
Richard Bayliss
Director of content, Australian Professional Leagues (APL)
Previously: Director of sport, Optus Sport
Benno Ruwe
Head of project, World Cup 2026, Fifa
Previously: Head of international relationships and product development, Bayern Munich
Departures
Kate Beavan
Director of hospitality and experiences, Formula One
Notes: Beavan will step down at the end of the month, having joined the series in 2003. There will not be a replacement for the role, with her responsibilities being merged into another directorate within Formula One.
Thad Sheely
Chief operating officer, Atlanta Hawks
Notes: Sheely has left the NBA franchise to pursue a real estate venture locally in Atlanta, the Sports Business Journal (SBJ) reports.
Ned Negus
Executive vice president, marketing and partnerships, Football Marketing Asia (FMA)
Notes: Negus, who has been with FMA since August 2018, has stepped down for personal reasons. He will remain in a strategic advisory role until the end of the year.
