Cricket Australia announce former NRL boss Todd Greenberg as its new CEO

Former NRL chief has been unveiled as Cricket Australia’s new CEO, to take over from outgoing boss Nick Hockley when the Summer of cricket wraps in March.

Former NRL boss Todd Greenberg has been handed the reins at Cricket Australia, taking on the CEO role from Nick Hockley.

As foreshadowed by Code Sports, the former rugby league supremo and current Australian Cricketers’ Association boss has been picked for the role, starting after the domestic summer finishes in March.

Greenberg said he was grateful to be given the opportunity with a game “I’ve loved since childhood”.

“This is an extremely exciting time for cricket with the rapid growth of the game across the globe creating fantastic opportunities, while also presenting some challenges to ensure Australian cricket retains its position at the very peak of the game,” he said on Tuesday.

“Thanks to the work of the current administration the game has strong fundamentals in place. I want to ensure we build on this momentum so Australian cricket continues to thrive - from local parks to the nation’s biggest stadiums.”

Former NRL boss Todd Greenberg is set to be unveiled at Cricket Australia’s new CEO. Picture: Richard Dobson

CA chairman Mike Baird thanked Hockley for his time in the job and was excited to welcome Greenberg into the fold.

“Todd will bring enormous experience to the role from his time leading the National Rugby League and his current position as CEO of the Australian Cricketers’ Association, as well as his time in club and stadium management,” Baird said.

“He is also a renowned driver of commercial growth and innovation, such as bringing the State of Origin to Melbourne and introducing the NRLW.”

Greenberg, 53, headed the NRL for four years between 2016 and 2020. He worked at Cricket NSW between 1993 and 1998.

He returned to the sport in 2021, taking over as head of the Australian Cricketers’ Association and overseeing negotiations with CA for a new memorandum of understanding.

Unlike the combative 2017 pay deal, Greenberg’s dealings with CA were broadly civil.

Greenberg had been the overwhelming favourite to replace Hockley since the vacancy arose more than three months ago.

CA employed global search firm Spencer Stuart to oversee the hunt for Hockley’s successor. Multiple industry sources confirmed that US-based former first-class cricketer and McKinsey management partner Ben Vonwiller had been among the final handful of candidates in the hunt for the job.

“This was a difficult decision,” Hockley said at the time of his resignation.

“However following what promises to be a blockbuster summer and with our five-year strategic plan well progressed, this is the right time to pursue another challenge, while giving the Board plenty of time to find its next CEO to build on the strong foundations now in place.

“This is not the time for goodbyes, as I remain completely focused on the season ahead and supporting the Board on succession and a smooth transition.”

Cricket Australia’s outgoing CEO Nick Hockley is committed until March 2025. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images for Cricket Australia

Greenberg told this masthead last year that he was concerned about the future of Test cricket.

“My message is, ‘we’re under pressure.’ And pressure might be a good thing, because it will lift all of our opportunities up and make us the best we can be, but other countries are really struggling,” Greenberg said.

“And we can’t play against ourselves. So I’d like to think that Test cricket is more than just Australia, England and India in 10 years’ time. We want to make sure that Pakistan and South Africa and New Zealand and others can continue to play against us.

“I worry that countries like South Africa and New Zealand in 10 years time may no longer be able to afford to have their best players playing and disappearing because of the push and pull of global leagues. So that is a concern. And I don’t think I’m being an alarmist. I think I’m being a realist.”

Originally published as Cricket Australia announce former NRL boss Todd Greenberg as its new CEO