By Jake Niall
Collingwood have completed a transition at board level, with former Channel Nine boss Jeff Browne handing over the presidency to the board’s anointed successor, Barry Carp, while four board-endorsed candidates were elected by the members.
Carp, an investment funds manager, was one of four board-backed candidates elected to Collingwood’s seven-member board, as two challengers were unsuccessful in the board election that was announced at the club’s annual general meeting on Monday night.
Barry Carp was elected president of the Collingwood Football Club.Credit: Eddie Jim
“It is a true honour to become the 15th president of the Collingwood Football Club,” Carp said.
“I want to pay tribute to Jeff Browne for his strong leadership over the past three years and to each president who has served before him. Our club is in a very strong position, and we have set the foundation for sustained success.
“The priority for me as president and for our board is to continue to build on the foundations we have set.”
Directors Carp and Renee Roberts were re-elected, while board-backed candidates Dan Rosen and Gaye Morris also secured positions on the seven-member board, defeating members Casey Nunn and John Couroyannis.
Departing Collingwood president Jeff Browne.Credit: Getty Images
Jodie Sizer and former player Paul Licuria were elected vice-presidents of the club following the AGM.
At Collingwood, the members elect the board, and the board then votes for the president and vice-president/s, whereas Hawthorn’s members vote directly for their club president.
Browne, 70, served as president for three seasons before stepping down, having been elected on a ticket at the end of the 2021 season and presided over the 2023 premiership.
Browne, who has been in remission from myeloma, a form of cancer, was involved in the appointment of new football boss Charlie Gardiner and in dealing with a raft of changes in the football department before his formal duties concluded on Monday night.
Rosen is a music executive while Morris is a human resources expert. Collingwood’s other board member is Paul Tuddenham, also a former player.
Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly told Monday night’s meeting the club should be achieving annual profits exceeding $6 million. The Magpies made a profit of just under $9 million in 2024.
The Magpies also awarded life membership to six of their 2023 premiership players – skipper Darcy Moore, Jordan de Goey, Jack Crisp, Brayden Maynard, American Mason Cox and departed defender Nathan Murphy, who was forced to retire because of the impact of concussions, and played his final game in the 2023 grand final when he was concussed in the first quarter.
All premiership players are given life membership by the Magpies at some stage. Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom had already made life members as members of the 2010 premiership.
Departing board member and ex-Australia Post chief Christine Holgate also received life membership – she stepped down with Browne at the AGM – as did long-time boot-studder and staffer Neil Price.
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