Senior appointments at Football Federation Australia

Football Federation Australia (FFA) has made two senior appointments with Russell Sargeant set to take on the role of Hyundai A-League as General Manager, Operations while John Kelly has been appointed Chief Operating Officer.

Sargeant (pictured) joins the FFA from a senior role in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the USA, bringing a wealth of experience to the role after holding key positions at the MLS (from 2005 to 2013), San Jose Earthquakes (2003 to 2005) and in international sports administration and marketing.

Reporting to Head of Hyundai A-League Damien de Bohun, Sargeant will lead the FFA League Operations team, managing Hyundai A-League competition administration and services.

Currently a Senior Director with MLS and Soccer United Marketing, Sargeant will return to his home country Australia following a 12 year stint in the US working in professional sport.

Welcoming the appointment, FFA Chief Executive David Gallop stated "we welcome Russell to the team and look forward to taking advantage of his wealth of experience in sports marketing and administration with MLS.

"FFA is in a phase of detailed implementation of its strategic plan for the A-League. The recruitment of an executive who has been successful in both implementing strategy and building football in a nation with similar characteristics as Australia is another forward step in our growth story."

Kathy Carter, President of Soccer United Marketing, MLS' commercial arm, attested to Sargeant's positive impact on the growth football, adding "during more than a decade of commitment to MLS and our commercial arm Soccer United Marketing, Russell has played an instrumental role in the growth of Major League Soccer and the sport of football in the United States and Canada.

"His combination of vision, relationship management skills, and passion for our sport make Russell a valuable asset to any growing football property. While we are sorry to see him leave our organisation, I am confident that Russell will have an incredibly positive impact on the A-League and the growth of football in Australia."

Sargeant, who began his football journey as a junior player within the Manly Warringah Football Association in NSW, thanked FFA for the opportunity to return to Australia to continue working in the sport closest to his heart.

He explained "I look forward to working with that team, with all of the A-League clubs, and with the entire football community to ensure that the Hyundai A-League continues to plays its critical role in establishing Australia as a world-class football nation."

Meanwhile, John Kelly has been promoted to the new role of FFA Chief Operating Officer after joining the Federation as the Chief Financial Officer in January 2012. Previously, he spent a decade in senior executive roles with Ten Network Holdings.

During FFA's broadcast negotiations last year with FOX SPORTS, SBS and Foxtel, Kelly played a leading role in securing arrangements that will deliver $160 million of economic value of the next four years.

As the COO, Kelly will retain responsibility for finance and assume control of international and domestic broadcast and digital rights, information and communications technology, major event acquisition and stadium hiring arrangements.

Kelly will have a formal co-ordination role over major projects that cover a range of new business opportunities for the benefit of community football and the professional tier. 

20th November 2012 - FFA ANNOUNCES RECORD NEW A-LEAGUE TV DEAL

6th July 2012 - FFA APPOINTS NEW HEAD OF HYUNDAI A-LEAGUE

17th May 2012 - GORMAN TO HEAD NEW WESTERN SYDNEY A-LEAGUE TEAM