NRL faces executive exodus on eve of Vegas opening round
The opening round of the NRL will start next month in Las Vegas – an impressive international coup for the league that has been overshadowed by a mass exodus of senior executives this week.
Among the departures is 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 has since been announced to join oOh!media); and Grant Williams, executive general manager of media and communications.
Last month saw the league’s commercial manager, Alex Stanley, leave for greener pastures (more circular pastures, too) of the AFL, while late December saw both the GM of clubs, Jonathon Stewart, and chief customer and digital officer Alexi Baker, depart the league.
As of this morning, the recent leaving crew was still listed on the official NRL site under their former job roles – while CEO Andrew Abdo sent an all-office email assuring staffers that the changes were simply a “new organisational design” – which is technically true.
Peter V’landys, chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission, has revealed the league is currently in talks with US broadcaster Fox for a five-year, $200 million broadcast deal that will see weekly, helmet-less 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.
“It’s important we stay on prime time TV in America,” V’landys said.
“We will speak to Fox executives after the 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.
“Fox Sports is a valuable and cherished partner. They have done everything they can to help us and we’re keen to go to the next level with a greater TV presence in America.”
Mumbrella has reached out to the NRL for further comment.
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Nathan Jolly is the Deputy Editor of Mumbrella. He joined the team in July, 2023.
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Alex Stanley
Alexi Baker
Andrew Every
Australian Rugby League Commission
Grant Williams
Jaymes Boland-Rudder
Jonathon Stewart
NRL
Peter V'landys
Vegas
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