Adelaide United can officially announce Ned Morris as the Club’s new Chair with immediate effect, following an internal review by club owners, Cor Adriaanse, Rob van Eck, and Yu Lidong.
Morris joins the Reds with more than 20 years of international sports experience having worked with some of the biggest brands, events, and rights holders in global sport including Formula 1 Australian and Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Organising Committee, AFL, NRL, and the International Cricket Council.
Most recently, Morris was Managing Director Australia and New Zealand at YouGov Sport and Business Director at Nielsen Sports. Morris also held a Senior Vice President role leading Repucom’s Middle East operations.
Speaking on Morris’ appointment, major shareholder in Adelaide United and ownership representative, Adriaanse, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Ned to Adelaide United.
“This announcement clearly means Piet Van der Pol has stepped down as Chairman and is no longer associated with the Club, paving the way for this new phase for Adelaide United.
“I am grateful for everything Piet has done for the Club over the last five years and the transformations he has overseen, and I wish him the best for what his future holds.
“Ned’s appointment is an initial demonstration of our commitment to investing in the long-term and sustainable development of Adelaide United to ensure that we continue to deliver results on and off the pitch.
“This is the beginning of a new era for the Club and we are excited for the direction we are now heading in with Ned working closely with Chief Executive Officer, Nathan Kosmina, and the Senior Management Team.
“As owners, we have been inspired by the potential that exists within Australian football, but, most importantly, South Australia and we are looking forward to more positive announcements in the coming weeks.”
Morris said: “I am very proud to be joining Adelaide United, a Club with some of the best and most loyal fans in the country.
“We are at a truly exciting time for Australian football and I see nothing but growth opportunities for this great Club.
“More broadly, the development framework that has been put in place across the A-Leagues, both on and off the pitch, places the game in a very strong position.
“I am very impressed with the existing personnel at the Club, and I am committed to providing them with the necessary support for continued success.
“Specifically, I am looking forward to working alongside Nathan Kosmina, Carl Veart, Adrian Stenta, our men’s and women’s players, and all our terrific staff and partners.
“I’m excited for what the future will hold for this great organisation as we continue to be the club for all South Australians.”
Kosmina said: “We’re excited to welcome Ned to Adelaide United, someone who brings to the Club unprecedented skills, knowledge, and experience having worked with a number of global sporting organisations.
“Whilst the foundations that we have laid for the Club are strong, we are confident that with the further strategic investment we will be able to take the Reds to a new level.”
