Adelaide United Football Club is delighted to announce Grant Mayer as the Club’s new Chief Executive Officer.
Having spent more than 20 years in the sport industry, Grant has thrived in varying roles throughout Australia, and in Europe.
Grant is also a graduate of sports programmes from both the University of Wollongong and the University of Canberra, having spent the last 15 years as an Executive Manager in various elite sporting organisations.
Most recently, Grant was the Chief Executive Officer of NRL club, West Tigers. Prior to this, he was the General Manager of Commercial Operations at AFL team Greater Western Sydney Giants, CEO of the Manly Sea Eagles, as well as the inaugural CEO of French European Super League team, Catalans Dragons.
Grant currently lectures in Sports Governance and Innovation in Sports Management at the Australian College of Physical Education and the International College of Sports Management Sydney. He has also recently been appointed a member to a significant governing body by the New South Wales Government.
Speaking on his appointment, Grant said: “The great appeal of football is the international power that it has and wields. I am a strong believer that for football to be a success in this country, the Hyundai A-League needs to be strong, healthy, and well supported by the governing body.
“Having met each member of the Adelaide United Board, there is a clear enthusiasm and desire to make this club the benchmark amongst the Hyundai A-League clubs.
“There is a great potential for the Club to grow and become one of the iconic brands of Australian sport by continuing to embrace not only South Australia but to capitalise on its popularity in other Australian States and in Asia where it is with Western Sydney Wanderers the most successful and recognisable football club in Australia.
“The sports industry has been exceptionally generous to my family and I, and we are embracing this move to Adelaide. I will be bringing my wife, Maree, and our four children to live in Adelaide as soon as the school year in NSW ends.
“We have travelled the world through my role as an executive of elite sporting clubs and I have been fortunate enough to be involved with two NRL Premiership winning clubs.
“I resolutely believe the opportunity Adelaide United has given me in playing a major role in the development of football in Australia will be my most rewarding position thus far.”
Adelaide United Chairman, Greg Griffin, said: “Firstly, I would like to thank the extraordinarily talented range of individuals who applied for this position.
“The quality and experience of the applicants made this selection process challenging to say the least.
“The Board as a group were, however, overwhelmed by Grant’s passion for sports administration, his desire to grow the Adelaide United brand here and globally, and his exceptional background as one of Australia’s most competent and regarded sporting administrators.
“We are delighted to secure his services and look forward to continuing the journey with him to make this the most successful Club in the Hyundai A-League.”
Grant will officially begin on 2 November 2015.