Swimming Australia boss Mark Anderson steps down on eve of Commonwealth Games

SWIMMING Australia is on the lookout for a new CEO just months out from the Commonwealth Games after Mark Anderson’s appointment as Collingwood boss.

Swimming Australia head coach Jacco Verhaeren, CEO Mark Anderson and Director of High Performance Michael Scott. Picture: Jordan Shields

SWIMMING Australia is on the lookout for a new chief executive just months out from a flagship home Commonwealth Games after Mark Anderson’s appointment as Collingwood boss.

Anderson will stay in his current post until the end of the Games trials on the Gold Coast in February, leaving a new boss to take over just a month out from the event.

Anderson has led a significant period of change at Swimming Australia after taking over in 2013 following the sport’s disastrous London Olympic campaign.

While the sport has made significant governance and cultural changes in that time, it has not returned to the levels of success once enjoyed, with just three gold medals won in the pool at the Rio Olympics last year.

Despite the haul, Australia was second behind the US on the medal table in Rio, something Anderson was proud of.

“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,” Anderson said.

Anderson will join Collingwood after his swimming commitments are over.

“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.

“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.

“The progress that was made and the talent that has been found, positions us ideally for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and Tokyo 2020.”

Swimming Australia president John Bertrand said Anderson left Swimming Australia in a strong position to attract another high-calibre leader.

“(His) appointment at the Collingwood Football Club … is great accolade for Mark, recognising what he has achieved as CEO of Swimming Australia over the last four and a half years,” Bertrand said.

“Although Mark is a loss to Swimming Australia, he leaves our organisation in a very strong position.

“We have made so much progress under his leadership and we are well placed to continue to attract the highest calibre people.”

Originally published as Swimming Australia boss Mark Anderson steps down on eve of Commonwealth Games