NRL's Bulldogs name fan engagement expert as new Chief Executive

The NRL's Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have appointed Aaron Warburton to the position of Chief Executive.

Announced on Friday, the move will be a home-coming for Warburton who served as the Club’s Head of Commercial Partnerships from 2010 to 2017. During his time at the Bulldogs he was the driving force behind the highest revenue growth in the Club’s history and played a significant leadership role in helping the Club achieve strategic priorities around membership and community involvement.

Warburton then went on to found his own sports sponsorship company and, with the backing of Qantas, has also launched a fan engagement start-up.

Advising that Warburton’s extensive experience in elite sporting environments made him a unanimous choice for the Bulldogs Board following a rigorous recruitment process, Club Chairman John Khoury stated “Aaron’s astute commercial acumen, his knowledge of membership and fan engagement, his understanding of high performance and the value he places on strong community connections made him a standout for the role.

“He understands the fabric of the Bulldogs and he’s highly motivated to create an environment where players, staff, sponsors, members and fans can all thrive. Aaron’s leadership, combined with (coach) Trent Barrett’s determination to succeed, means the Bulldogs have a bright future ahead.”

Bulldogs major sponsor, Arthur Laundy, was also pleased with the process the club had undertaken in making the appointment, adding “I have been impressed with the way that the Board has conducted their search for the new Chief Executive of the Football Club and am confident that they have found the best person for the job. Aaron will be in a great position to continue to build on the momentum that Trent and his squad have created in the off-season and I am excited about what lies ahead for this great club.”

Looking forward to his new role, Warburton who will commence duties in the coming weeks, commented “this is such an exciting period for the Bulldogs and I’m honoured to be part of it. A new coach and new recruits will bring exciting opportunities for this great Club and it’s a privilege to be part of this evolution.

“With the season just around the corner I can’t wait to start. I’ll be doing everything I can to ensure success for the Bulldogs in 2021 and beyond.”

He replaces Andrew Hill, who left the club in January.

Image: Aaron Warburton (left) with Bulldogs Chair John Khoury. Credit: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.