Search for Australia’s next Olympic CEO shrouded in secrecy

Barring the sudden appearance of white smoke billowing from the chimneys at the AOC’s headquarters, the pending appointment of one of the most hallowed jobs in Australian sport remains shrouded in secrecy.

Barring the sudden appearance of white smoke billowing from the chimneys at the Australian Olympic Committee’s (AOC) Sydney’s harbourside headquarters, the pending appointment of one of the most hallowed jobs in Australian sport remains shrouded in secrecy.

More than three months after Matt Carroll announced he was stepping down as the AOC’s chief executive officer, his successor has still not been chosen.

For the Olympic faithful, the wait has only added to the suspense and intrigue, though it can be confirmed the process is at least underway, albeit behind closed doors.

But, like the College of Cardinals convened to elect each new pope, everyone in the AOC’s version of the conclave has taken a vow of silence until the ordination is complete.

That is now expected to happen in early April, a month before the AOC’s Annual General Meeting, when Carroll’s eight-year reign at the altar will end.

Matt Carroll is stepping down as Australian Olympic Committee CEO

Carroll, 64, is leaving of his own accord, saying he wants the next high priest - or priestess - to get their robes on long before Brisbane hosts the Olympic Games in 2032.

Already one of the most varied jobs in Australian sport, the added complication of organising an Olympics makes this long-term appointment a once in a lifetime opportunity that has aroused the interest of an eclectic range of administrators because it requires a jack-of-all trades.

Not only will the successful candidate have to deal with almost 50 different national summer and winter sporting bodies, they will also need a thick skin and diplomatic skills to negotiate with all the global federations, including the International Olympic Committee, as well as federal and state governments, sponsors and broadcasters and a 2028 Los Angeles Olympics taking place with Donald Trump in the White House.

“As you’d expect, we are going to have a tough decision to make given the quality of the people who have shown interest in the position,” AOC President Ian Chesterman told this masthead.

“We always knew this would be the case and it’s exactly where we want to be. At the end of the day, it’s like sport, there can only be one winner, but we have a quality field at the start line.”

AOC President Ian Chesterman

The applications have now closed but the identities of everyone who threw their hats in the ring remains a closely guarded secret, known only to Ogden Berndtson, the executive recruitment firm charged with identifying and interviewing potential chiefs.

It is understood the recruiters have already spoken with some applicants and are busy preparing a shortlist that will be presented to an AOC executive subcommittee in March.

An AOC spokesperson said the list of applicants remains confidential but Odgers Berndtson had received “significant interest”, both from within Australia and overseas, and were “very pleased” with the quality of candidates.

None of that, of course, has stopped the rumour mill from going into overdrive about who might get the eventual blessing.

This masthead has heard the names of dozens of sports leaders who would be regarded as strong candidates but no-one is saying publicly if they even entered the race.

Ben Houston, the current CEO of Sailing Australia and President of Commonwealth Games Australia, is some people’s tip but there’s also widespread support for many others, including Nick Hockley, the former CEO of Cricket Australia, who worked on the London 2012 Olympics and Paralympics, Sarah Cook, the dynamic CEO of Rowing Australia, and

Marne Fechner, the former Netball Australia boss who is now in charge of Cycling Australia.

Rowing Australia boss Sarah Cook

Others point to swimming legend Kieren Perkins, or Chelsea Warr, who is nicknamed the ‘gold medal maker, or volleyball boss Andrew Dee, or Australian Sports Commission deputy Matti Clements or Mark Stockwell, the Olympic swimmer who served as chairman of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Organising Committee.

Even Peter V’landys’ name has popped up, though few expect the NRL and NSW racing chief would apply given he would probably have to take a hefty pay cut.

Despite the misconception the AOC is propped up by taxpayer money, it’s a lean self-funded organisation that pays its own way.

The CEO’s published remuneration package for 2023 was set at an annual base of $561,592, plus bonuses, which isn’t to be sniffed at, but is below the salaries that many CEOs in the professional codes or corporate world get.

What is known is that the handful who do make the shortlist will be interviewed by a subcommittee, made up of Chesterman, Vice Presidents Evelyn Halls and Matt Allen, and cycling legend Anna Meares, the Australian team’s chef de mission for the 2024 Paris and 2028 Los Angeles Summer Olympics.

Commonwealth Games Australia President Ben Houston

The real carrot is the prestige that comes with the role, which has raised questions about what type of person the AOC is looking for.

Business acumen is always important but is not the only criteria because the AOC is required to hand over the management of all its commercial rights, from 2027 to 2032, to the organising committee for Brisbane.

The AOC will still manage the Australian team for the Brisbane Olympics, and regain control of the commercial rights after the Games, but being one of the public faces of the AOC matters too because this is a golden time for the Olympic movement.

“The AOC wants to maximise the outcomes all the way to Brisbane 2032 for both our summer and winter sports and to set ourselves and the Olympic sports up for great success for the decade that follows. Our next CEO will play a vital role in making that happen,” Chesterman said.

“Along the way we have Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026 and the French Alps 2030 and we know LA28 is an incredibly important Games in their own right. So there is much to do, much to achieve, and I’m sure that excites candidates to be part of this incredible chapter of Australian sport.”