New NBL CEO David Stevenson poached from AFL

The NBL has pulled off a significant boardroom coup by poaching a leading AFL executive to be their new CEO.

The NBL has pulled off a significant boardroom coup by poaching a leading AFL executive to take on the new role of CEO of the NBL and lead the growing code towards expansion.

While the AFL procrastinates on its search to replace outgoing boss Gillon McLachlan, NBL owner and executive director Larry Kestelman has struck by taking AFL general manager of operations David Stevenson as the new boss of the league.

Stevenson, who formerly held roles as Western Bulldogs CEO and as a VP at Nike where he worked for 17 years, will work alongside Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger when he starts in the role in July.

Coming off the back of the biggest year on record, Stevenson is excited about the direction he can take the NBL as interest in basketball surges around the country.

“What Larry and his team have achieved to date is nothing short of extraordinary and I truly cannot wait to start with the team,” he said.

David Stevenson (left) during his CEO stint at the Bulldogs in 2016. Picture: Brendan Radke

“During my discussions with Larry, it’s clear his appetite for more growth and success here and internationally is insatiable, and his enthusiasm for basketball is undeniable. I share the same optimism and excitement about the growth prospects for the NBL.

“I’ve enjoyed my time at the AFL immensely and have learned a lot from Gillon McLachlan, Travis Auld and the team over the last six and a half years. I thank everyone at the AFL, the clubs, players, broadcast & commercial partners, and state and federal governments for their fantastic support and partnership as we delivered growth and success across the AFL industry.

“The opportunity to join the NBL at this particular time was impossible for me to turn down as there’s clearly been a revival of professional basketball in Australia and New Zealand under Larry and his executive team’s leadership.”

Kestelman said the appointment of Stevenson would help take the NBL into the future.

“David is a growth focused executive and the perfect fit for the NBL as we enter the most exciting period in our history,” Kestelman said.

“We have seen unprecedented growth and achieved significant records in key areas across the business including TV viewership, commercial revenue, attendances, fan growth, database, digital media following and engagement, and media exposure, but we are striving for much, much more.

“I am confident David is the right person to lead the business to capitalise on these recent results and achievements and keep the business growing across all focus areas.

“The resurgence of the NBL has been undeniable and we are widely regarded as the second-best basketball league in the world outside of the NBA, and bringing David on as CEO is a significant step forward for us.

“We have achieved a lot in recent years, but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels and must push forward aggressively to engage more fans not only in Australia and New Zealand, but across the globe and take the NBL to where we think it belongs.

“We want more eyes from around the world on our League, and we have big plans in place to make that a reality.”

Kestelman said expansion would be high on the agenda for Stevenson as the NBL looks to capitalise on its growing market share.

“It’s no secret we have been inundated with interest from all over Australia and even Asia for new licences so it’s integral we build out our strategic capacity to ensure we take full advantage and set up prospective organisations for success,” Kestelman said.

Originally published as New NBL CEO David Stevenson poached from AFL