Collingwood appoints Swimming Australia boss Mark Anderson as chief executive

COLLINGWOOD has appointed the boss of Swimming Australia as its new chief executive after an extensive search following Gary Pert’s resignation earlier this year.

COLLINGWOOD has appointed Swimming Australia boss Mark Anderson as its new chief executive.

Anderson has been at the helm of Swimming Australia for the past 4½ years and will continue in his role until the end of the Commonwealth Games selection trials in February.

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He was in charge at Hockey Australia for several years before switching sports.

Anderson also has previous AFL experience having spent three years as Essendon’s chief commercial officer.

The Harvard Business School graduate replaces Gary Pert, resigned in July after 10 seasons in the job.

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire welcomed the appointment.

“Mark brings high-end experience in elite sport, including time in the AFL industry and with national sporting bodies, and has shown a great ability to lead change that delivers outstanding results,” McGuire said.

“Mark understands the unforgiving realities of elite sport, having led organisations competing on world stages, and has proven his strong commercial sense in securing landmark sponsorship and broadcast deals across the AFL, swimming and hockey.

“The Collingwood Forever Blueprint clearly outlines the direction this club needs to take and we are certain Mark has the skillset and character to lead a 21st century sports organisation that houses elite male and female teams and is home to an unparalleled supporter base.”

Mark Anderson (second from right) is Collingwood’s new chief executive. Picture: Jordan Shields

Anderson said of his time at Swmming Australia: “Swimming has such a proud history of success in the pool and high levels of participation across Australia.”

“It was a great honour to come into swimming at a key time of change in the sport and continue to build it up with the support of an engaged and passionate swimming community.

“One of our key objectives was to make Australia proud of the Dolphins Swim Team and the swimmers, coaches and staff have all contributed to this over my time with them.

“We know that the job is not done although I was not planning to leave at this time, I am confident that we have highly talented staff, coaches and systems in place to deliver future success.

“There have been many highlights from my time and the leadership team have contributed significantly to the signing of the Hancock Prospecting and Optus as Principal Partners of the sport. Our long-term signing of our broadcast Partner Network Seven, has also been a pivotal change that is contributing to our sports success.

“We have had some great successes and moving the team from seventh place to second on the Olympic medal tally was just one of these. I was truly proud to have been a part of the Olympic and Paralympic campaigns in Rio. The progress that was made and the talent that has been found positions us ideally for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Tokyo 2020.

“And of course, one of my fondest highlights; helping to re-launch the Dolphins brand – connecting the sport back to its roots - a symbol of the sport coming together to connect our past to our present to benefit the future.

“None of this could have been possible without the support of John Bertrand as President of Swimming Australia and the appointment of Jacco Verhaeren as head coach. These stand out as pivotal moments in the re-building our sport.

“I have the upmost admiration for John and the opportunity to work alongside him as Chairman was an absolute privilege,” Anderson said.