Australian Olympics Committee CEO search heats up, biggest names to replace Matt Carroll

The announcement that Matt Carroll is stepping down as AOC chief executive has everyone in the close-knit sector speculating about who his replacement might be. These big names are among the contenders.

AOC President John Coates and Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll talk during the Australian Olympic Committee Annual General Meeting in Sydney, Saturday, April 28, 2018. (AAP Image/Daniel Munoz) NO ARCHIVING

The text messages and phone calls between Australia’s sports administrators have been running hotter than usual this week.

The announcement that Matt Carroll is stepping down as chief executive of the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has got everyone in the close-knit sector speculating about who his replacement might be.

One of the most important jobs in Australian sport at any time, the timing is what makes this appointment unique because whoever gets chosen will be flying the plane when the Olympics land in Brisbane in 2032.

Carroll’s replacement won’t be decided until at least the middle of 2025, but there’s some pretty polished CV’s already getting a makeover because the list of candidates is expected to include a who’s who of the movers and shakers in Australian sport.

While below what many CEO jobs in the business sector pay, the salary isn’t too shabby, with the remuneration package for 2023 set at an annual base of $561,592, plus parking, performance bonuses and superannuation contributions.

Matt Carroll made significant changes during his tenure as the Australian Olympic Committee chief

The perks are pretty good too, with international travel and prime tickets to all the upcoming summer and winter Olympics, including Milan-Cortina (2026), Los Angeles (2028) and the French Alps (2030) before the circus rolls into Queensland.

But it’s the unrivaled prestige that comes with organising a home Olympics that is the biggest carrot for all the prospective applicants.

“I think it’s quite an exciting time for a (new) chief executive to come in because there’s a great opportunity,” Carroll told his masthead.

“The challenge is to get it right but that’s the same any time.”

Appointed in 2017 as Fiona de Jong’s successor, Carroll’s successful tenure included the rollercoaster of dealing with the Covid impacted Tokyo Games and also the highs of the record-breaking Paris Olympics.

Highly respected, the 64-year-old former boss of rugby, soccer and sailing only stood down because he wanted his replacement to get their feet well ahead of Brisbane.

“One of the reasons why I’m doing what I’m doing is because, as I said to the board, at the age of 72 I don’t need to be doing a CEO’s job in 2032,” Carroll said.

“Because when the flame goes out I’ll be out the door so your chief executive for ‘32 needs to be in place for Los Angeles.

“The reason for that is particularly because of the home Games. We normally manage in quads (four-year cycles) because that’s the way the Olympic world works.

“But in this particular case now, because of the home Games, the LA quad and the Brisbane quad have to be managed together.

“In terms of the new chief executive coming in, that is so important because the interweaving of Brisbane has already started, which is a good thing.”

Former AOC President John Coates with Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll

While the AOC’s careers department hasn’t posted the job description just yet, any National Olympic Committee chief always has to be a bit of a jack-of-all trades because they need to deal with athletes and the 46 different summer and winter sporting bodies they compete for as well as well as global federations, the International Olympic committee (IOC), governments, sponsors and broadcasters.

But Brisbane presents an additional once-in-a-lifetime challenge. Because Australia is hosting the Games, the AOC is required to hand over the management of all its commercial rights, from 2027 to 2032, to the organising committee.

“We’ve signed an agreement, which is called the Joint Marketing Program Agreement between ourselves, the organising committee and the IOC,” Carroll said.

“And we surrender our commercial rights to our IP. That all goes over to the organising committee to put into their commercial program and to be sold to the sponsors for the Brisbane 2032 Games. In return, they’re paying us for those rights.”

The AOC will still manage the Australian team for the Brisbane Olympics, and regain control of the commercial rights after the Games, and the CEO will be given a guaranteed seat on the organising committee.

AOC chief Matt Carroll, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Qantas Group CEO Vanessa Hudson and Governor General Sam Mostyn wait for the arrival of the Australian Olympic team from Paris

But that all adds to the importance of the committee to make sure they get the right person.

Is it any wonder the country’s best administrators are giddy with wonder?

“It’s critical for the new CEO to have his or her plan for LA, into Brisbane and then 2033 and beyond,” Carroll said.

“When everyone packs up and leaves town 2032, the only two organisations left are the Australian Olympic Committee and Paralympics Australia.

“The organising committee’s gone, the governments aren’t involved, the IOC’s gone back to doing what they do on an annual basis and we’ll be taking a team to 2036.”