Banker David Smith named as new NRL CEO

[Bucking Beads]

The NRL is a business so the best CEO for the job is what we need. Love of the game is just a bonus.

 

[Porthoz]

It's no different to a not for profit organisation. Unlike any other corporation, it's not the NRL's primary purpose to maximise shareholder wealth.

You need a bit of both - business savy and a love of and understandings of the the game and its roots. I'd much prefer those portions to be roughly 90%/10% as a purely econnomically rational businessman is not always going to make the right decision for all stakeholders. Just as the traditional "by the book" black and white lawyer (Gallop) struggled to show initiative.

But a Rugby League purist (say a Gus Gould for example) would be a hopeless CEO.

Mate, I did say I would prefer a "Charismatic Leader with a sound mind". :winky:

I do agree with the gist of your post, but I think that anyone capable of reasoning soundly, will make the appropriate decisions. The most important part is that he has to make sure he gets all the information he needs!
I'm just saying it's more difficult to make a decision based on different subjective opinions, if your knowledge of the basic product is only superficial...
The business part of the decision doesn't vary that much, and it will most often come down to a "simple" weighing of cost vs. benefit. I worry about the weight the benefit will be given by someone without that intrinsic knowledge!

 

[subsbligh]

Mate, I did say I would prefer a "Charismatic Leader with a sound mind". :winky:

...your point being? :P

 

[Alec]

For some reason I have a feeling he's just going to be a puppet.

 

[subsbligh]

For some reason I have a feeling he's just going to be a puppet.

Based on what? And a puppet to whom?

 

[Coxy]

Based on what? And a puppet to whom?

John Grant maybe?

But as I said earlier, I think this is the best opportunity to be an NRL CEO and NOT be a puppet. Let's hope he has the strength to take control.

 

[Kaz]

Based on what? And a puppet to whom?

Based on knowledge (or by previous things that have happened). Puppet master is John Grant.

Gallop wasn't going to be a puppet to anyone, so John Grant err I mean the 'commission' sacked him.

Fingers crossed that David Smith has the balls to tell Grant to STFU & let him run the game the way it should be run.

 

[subsbligh]

Based on knowledge (or by previous things that have happened). Puppet master is John Grant.

Gallop wasn't going to be a puppet to anyone, so John Grant err I mean the 'commission' sacked him.

Fingers crossed that David Smith has the balls to tell Grant to STFU & let him run the game the way it should be run.

Load of speculation.

Gallop's termination/forced resignation was overdue. The NRL needed a fresh start. It was the right decision for all involved.

Hopefully the appointment of a CEO to the NRL will get have the desired effect of taking the pressure off John Grant to be the face of the NRL.

I think the fact this Smith bloke sounds like a complete stranger to the game and its stupid ego politics is bloody fantastic. Might bring some smart ideas and effective financial management to the game.

If he's smart he'll appoint an operations manager or general manager to deal with the "Todd Carney" issues of Rugby League and to feed the seagulls.

 

[Big Pete]

This conspiracy theorist profiling of Grant is hilarious.

Gallop was always on the outer, he'd given all he had to offer in ten years and it was time for a fresh perspective.

I'm fine with this choice, at least it wasn't a club CEO.

 

[Kimlo]

The CEO doesn't really need any knowledge of the NRL and just because he's come from a bank environment that doesn't mean he's not a huge fan of the game who knows it inside out. The board consists of people who are both business men/women and former NRL players and the CEO has to appease the board for decisions to go through.

I think a business man as CEO is exactly what the game needs.

 

[fredie]

No wonder the 2nd in charge of AFL didn't want the job, his first name isn't David.

Does the description about the job say, only David's need apply.

:001_tongue:

He said he wants to called Dave lol

 

[Kaz]

He said he wants to called Dave

What a rebel.

 

[Alec]

NRL keeping an eye on "Dave".