Geelong Football Club names new President

The Geelong Football Club has named Boston Consulting Group’s local Managing Partner Grant McCabe as its next President of the Geelong Cats, succeeding Craig Drummond.

McCabe, who will take up the position after the AFL’ club’s annual general meeting this December, will take on the role following Drummond recently advising he would step down at the end of the year after 13 years on the Board.

McCabe has been a director of the Club since 2019 and played an integral role in the Club’s successful bid for an AFLW licence, leading the integration of women’s football into the Club and Geelong region.

Having grown up in Geelong, where his extended family still reside, McCabe attended St Mary’s Technical School and Newcomb Secondary College before completing degrees at RMIT and Melbourne University. 

In his role for global consulting firm, Boston Consulting Group, Australia and New Zealand, McCabe has been described as bringing “a wealth of industry knowledge to the Club”, having also been appointed by the AFL as independent chair of the AFL Industry Governance Committee for Player Development in 2017.

Drummond said he was thrilled for the Club to be taken forward with someone of McCabe’s calibre, commenting “Grant has been a long-time member and supporter of the Club and has played a key role on our Board since joining five years ago. 

“Grant is a highly successful executive and his expertise in critical thinking and strategic decision making has already contributed significantly to our Club.

“The appointment of Grant as the Club’s next president will be a significant milestone for the Geelong Football Club and comes as the Club seeks to reach 100,000 members in 2025.”

Advising that he is excited by this new opportunity, McCabe noted “it is an honour to take on the role of President. I have been a lifelong supporter of this Club and as a Board member, have seen up close what a truly impressive place this is.

"We are in a really strong position and everyone at this Club from our Board and executive team, to our players, staff, members, volunteers, partners, and the Geelong community, are passionate and optimistic about our future."

Drummond will remain as President for the duration of the year, allowing for an appropriate period of transition.

Image: Grant McCabe at GMHBA Stadium.