AFL
The Australian Football League (AFL) has confirmed that Gillion McLachlan will step down from his role as chief executive in April 2023.
The elite Australian rules football league says McLachlan’s successor will be appointed early next year, with the 49-year-old set to leave his post by no later than 16th April.
Despite initially announcing that he would retire at the end of the 2022 season, McLachlan stayed on in order to resolve a number of key issues concerning the AFL, chiefly the Hawthorn racism scandal, the negotiations on the new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), and the establishment of a 19th franchise in Tasmania, which was given provisional approval on 18th November.
”[Australian rules football is] the best game in the world. That’s why everyone loves it so much,” McLachlan said in April when he first revealed plans to retire as AFL chief executive.
“The responsibility has never been lost on me and I feel good that the game’s in better shape now than when I took over, but the scoreboard will be for others to judge.
After his departure date was confirmed, Richard Goyder, chairman of the AFL Commission, said: “It is important the AFL has continuity during this period as we continue to work through some incredibly significant and complex pieces of work for the industry.
“As you know, Gill initially committed to finishing at the end of the year, and I thank him for agreeing to stay in the leadership role for an additional period as we navigate through a critically important time.”
Elsewhere, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has re-elected Witold Banka as its president along with Yang Yang as vice president. First elected in 2019, the duo will return for an additional three-year term until 2025.
Rugby League (RL) Commercial, the joint venture between the Rugby Football League (RFL) and the Super League that launched earlier this year to realign the sport’s governance, has made three new appointments to complete its six-person board.
These include former Eurosport and Fox Sports executive Peter Hutton, Meta’s sports and entertainment media partnerships lead Anna Chanduvi, and Assura chief executive.
Appointments
Francesca Carter-Kelly
Victoria 2026, Chef de Mission, Commonwealth Games England
Previously: Director of sport and performance, Commonwealth Games England
Connie Hurlbut
Interim commissioner, West Coast Conference
Previously: Senior associate commissioner, West Coast Conference
Antonio de la Rosa
Head of attractions, Iberia, Legends
Previously: Vice president of live experiences and events, Paramount Pictures
Garth Lagerwey
President and chief executive, Atlanta United
Previously: General manager and president of soccer, Seattle Sounders
Julia Boyadjieva
Vice president of international event organisations, Professional Fighters League (PFL)
Previously: Head of promoter relations, Formula One
Alex Horne
Chair, Formation Games
Note: Horne has held a number of executive positions, including chief executive of the Football Association (FA).
Roger Lewis
Chairman, Racecourse Media Group
Note: Lewis has extended his term as chairman until October 2023.
Departures
Shaila-Ann Rao
Previously: Interim secretary general, FIA
Note: Rao started her position at the FIA after joining from Mercedes in June.
Miroslaw Skrzypczynski
Previously: Head, Polish Tennis Association (PZT)
Note: Skrzypczynski has resigned from the position amid allegations of sexual assault.
