‘New organisational design’ sees departure of NRL executives

Counting down to the opening round of its 2024 season in Las Vegas the NRL has seen the departure of three of its senior executives this week.

The departures include Executive General Manager of Partnership, Jaymes Boland-Rudder; Executive General Manager of Strategy and Transformation, Andrew Every (who was also acting Head of Participation, Community and Game Development and Grant Williams, Executive General Manager of Media and Communications.

The trio’s departure follows NRL Commercial Manager, Alex Stanley – who has moved to the AFL - while at the end of the year General Manager - Clubs, Jonathon Stewart, and Chief Customer and Digital Officer Alexi Baker, depart the body.

Explaining the departures, NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo sent an inter-office email advising that the changes were simply a “new organisational design”.

Heading toward the season opener, Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys has indicated that the code is currently in talks with US broadcaster Fox for a five-year, $200 million broadcast deal that will see weekly, NRL games air live on American prime time television.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph yesterday, V’landys said the success of the upcoming Vegas double-header is crucial to the league’s television expansion, commenting “it’s important we stay on prime time TV in America.

“We will speak to Fox executives after the (Las Vegas) event, see what was successful, what wasn’t. I’m confident we will have the NRL live on American TV for the next five years. We can’t just be there for one week, we want the whole NRL season to be shown live in America if we can.

Every’s move has seen him join Oh!media in the the newly created role of Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer, working to accelerate the outdoor media group's digital transformation.

Every starts in his new role as of 22nd February.

Image credit: VenuesLive.